The movie was the very last production filmed on the famous "Mayberry" back-lot set at Desilu Studios in Culver City, California. This was just before the back-lot was razed in 1976. This film ended an era that lasted 49 years for the former "RKO 40 Acres" back-lot and then "Desilu Culver" back-lot.
Shot in about thirty days.
Actress Sissy Spacek worked as an assistant art director on the movie according to director George Armitage. The art director and production designer was Jack Fisk who is Spacek's husband. Spacek though was not billed in the movie's credits. Armitage has said: "We had absolutely no money, no budget, but Jack did extraordinary things-and Sissy Spacek was our assistant art director on that."
Andrew Stevens also starred in "Massacre at Central High", a movie with a similar plot, the same year.
The movie is a remake of 'Bucktown' '(1975) which had debuted just the previous year.