Marlon Brando told Lawrence Grobel ("Conversations with Brando") that this movie, which he only made for the money, as he was broke, was ruined in the editing room, with the humor of his scenes cut out.
Faithful to his reputation of not learning his lines before coming to the set, Marlon Brando did not use his usual prompt boards on this movie. The hearing aid he wore as part of his costume helped him deliver his dialogue as it was prompted by an assistant directly into his ear.
Reportedly, Director John G. Avildsen distanced himself from this movie after it was completed. Apparently, Avildsen wanted to have his name removed from the credits as Editor and Director. This request was unsuccessful, and Avildsen's credits remained. Avildsen complained that after his final edit, Writer and Producer Steve Shagan re-edited this movie differently than Avildsen's final cut.
Marlon Brando demanded he organize his own hair and make-up for this movie. Brando appeared with an almost completely bald shaved head bar a few hairs, which were combed to his liking, wore rimless glasses, had a hearing aid implanted in one of his ears, had fitted false upper teeth, and wore nose plugs. The make-up was widely derided as unconvincing. He also donned an ill-fitting three-piece suit for his role as a 75-year-old oil magnate. According to a brief in the 18 May 1980 edition of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Brando's performance was inspired by Occidental Petroleum's Armand Hammer.