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The movie was based on not one but two John Steinbeck novels, the picture taking the setting story and its title from Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" and most plot elements from its sequel, "Sweet Thursday." The idea of using two Steinbeck books had been the concept behind the libretto of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Pipe Dream."

Raquel Welch was originally cast as Suzy. She was fired after five days of filming. She allegedly took too long to get ready each day. Welch then sued the MGM studio for wrongful termination and in the mid-1980s won getting a multi-million dollar settlement. Turner Entertainment had to do the pay-out as by that time they were the owners of MGM.

The character of "Doc" is based on John Steinbeck's friend "Doc" Ricketts (Edward Flanders Robb Ricketts), a pioneering marine biologist who wrote the classic "Between Pacific Tides." He and Steinbeck collaborated on the book "Log of the Sea of Cortez."

Star Nick Nolte told Rolling Stone magazine during production that he was a fan of John Steinbeck's work. He also admitted to having to wear a girdle to flatten his belly. In the interview, Nolte called the girdle a "Richard Dreyfuss special."

John Steinbeck's source novel "Sweet Thursday" was adapted into a Broadway musical "Pipe Dream" in 1955 by Rodgers and Hammerstein, it was their seventh stage musical and a box-office flop. In 2012, however, "Pipe Dream" was revived in a semi-staged production by the New York group Encores! The revival was a success and led to a highly acclaimed cast recording starring Laura Osnes as Suzy, Leslie Uggams as Fauna, and others.