This film shares its title with a Neil Diamond song sung by Johnny Cash at the beginning of the film. Johnny Cash was known as "the man in black" due to his propensity for wearing all black. Michael Douglas' character spends most of the film wearing black clothing and only occasionally wears anything except black.
Michael Douglas and Danny Devito were roommates in New York in the 1960s.
Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito appear together for the first time in over 20 years since La guerre des Rose (1989).
Michael Douglas's next film Wall Street: l'argent ne dort jamais (2010) was also filmed at Fordham University and again co-starred Susan Sarandon.
The man that beats up the character of Michael Douglas introduces himself as Nascarella. This character is in fact played by Arthur J. Nascarella.