The period of principal photography on this picture was a shoot that ran for about five and a half weeks.
Star Peter Fonda mandated that Bruce Langhorne compose the music for this movie. Director Jonathan Demme states on the film's audio-commentary that this was the only time Fonda through his weight around on the production. However, Fonda reportedly also insisted on driving a Caterpillar bulldozer in one scene instead of having a stunt double do it for him.
The opening montage of scenes featuring Peter Fonda and Gino Franco driving home to Arkansas was shot by Tak Fujimoto, who was originally Jonathan Demme's choice of cinematographer as they worked together in a couple other films prior to this, but being this was a union picture, Fujimoto got caught by the union teamsters and was sent packing back home to California. However, his footage was used for the actual film.
The two goons who worked for Pierce Crabtree were Peter Fain and a hulking guy only known as "Cupcake". Apparently, they worked as real-life bodyguards for Martin Scorsese back in New York City. Director Jonathan Demme never had any idea of how they made it to Arkansas for filming.
To give editor Anthony Magro some breathing room, writer-director Jonathan Demme edited the climatic sequence where Tom Hunter (Peter Fonda) storms Pierce Crabtree (Philip Carey)'s property.
George Armitage: Uncredited, as a man playing tennis. He can be seen as the tennis player who witnesses the murder of Judge O'Connor in the park.