Producer Berry Gordy fired original director Tony Richardson and then took over direction of the picture himself.
First movie to use Paramount's "Blue Mountain" logo, which was used until December 1986.
The role of Tracy Chambers was originally written for Liza Minelli.
The theme song "Do You Know Where You're Going To" was at first considered not acceptable "because of quality standards" for being an Oscar contender but Berry Gordy successfully lobbied the Academy into nominating it.