Director Gerhard Klein died suddenly ten days into production in early 1970. He was replaced by his former assistant Helmut Nitzschke, aided by Klein's friend and collaborator Wolfgang Kohlhaase. Shooting recommenced two years later.
As production was interrupted for almost two years due to the death of director Gerhard Klein, roles had to be recast. Most notably the role of the murderer, originally played by Wolfgang Kieling, was filled by Gert Gütschow, because meanwhile Kieling had left the GDR. Furthermore the role of Gramm went from Wolfgang Winkler to Alexander Lang.