Released in theaters roughly one month before Cruising (1980), another film that was protested by gay rights activists for portrayals some deemed homophobic and hateful stereotypes.
According to producer Mike Lobell, Bill Murray auditioned for the Luffrono role.
This was the first major studio release of the 1980's.
According to Woody Allen, this film's title was originally one of the choices for his 1978 film "Interiors", which was photographed by Gordon Willis.
Revered longtime cinematographer Gordon Willis did not enjoy the directing process, disliked dealing with Paramount regarding the film's violence and harsh themes, hated doing interviews for it before its January 1980 release, was profoundly depressed by the movie's box office bomb and critically reviled status, and ended up never directing a motion picture again.