The film's budget allowed $600 for Matt Dillon to learn to play craps in real games. To make sure the money lasted, a film crew member always bet against him for the same amount so their wins and losses cancelled out.
Diane Lane said she was very nervous being naked on stage filming her striptease scene. But five minutes after it began, she realized the crew was too busy doing their jobs to pay any attention to her. So she figured, "What the hell. They're not thinking about it, so why should I?"
Third collaboration between Matt Dillon and Diane Lane since working on The Outsiders (1983) and Rumble Fish (1983).
To research her character, Diane Lane went to several strip joints. She said in an interview that during the 50s, when the film takes place, the emphasis in stripteases was on the "tease." Dancers disposed of their garments slowly and provocatively to leave as much to the audience's imagination for as long as possible. But it's the total opposite in modern clubs. They take off all their clothes as quickly as possible and dance around naked for as long as they can.
This would be Ben Bolt's only Hollywood feature.