Director Richard Tuggle had a habit of not wearing any underwear in muggy New Orleans. One day, standing up on a camera truck, Clint Eastwood noticed that Tuggle's private parts were hanging out of his shorts. In front of everybody, he ordered Tuggle to go back to his trailer and put on some underwear, pronto.
Actor Clint Eastwood's housemate since 1975, the late Sondra Locke (1944-2018), who had co-starred with him in six previous films, was not cast in the lead female role in this movie or any of the five others Eastwood made during the remainder of their relationship. Dirty Harry IV - Dirty Harry kommt zurück (1983) was the last Eastwood film in which Locke appeared and reportedly, WB studio execs told Eastwood that the public had tired of seeing movies of him teamed with Locke and not to make any more pictures with her.
In 1990, Alison Eastwood was stalked by New Zealander Mike Joynson who allegedly had become obsessed with her after seeing this movie.
Two of Clint Eastwood's secret grandchildren were born during the film's postproduction. On February 21, 1984, Kimber Eastwood gave birth to a boy named Clinton Eastwood Gaddie (now Clint Frovarp McCartney). On April 17, 1984, Laurie Murray gave birth to a girl named Kelsey Brynn Murray (now Kelsey Hayford). Clint Eastwood has never spoken publicly of their existence.
This movie was originally set in San Francisco, but because that city was associated with the "Dirty Harry" movies, this movie's setting had to be relocated to another American city. New Orleans was chosen for this.
Fritz Manes: Clint Eastwood's regular producing partner as Valdes. The appearance was one of seven that Manes has made in Eastwood's movies.