James Toback claims in the DVD director's commentary that Michael V. Gazzo, who was fond of a drink, bribed him for a pitcher of Bloody Marys, in exchange for an unscripted line that would "make the scene" in question: the line was "I should have strangled you in your crib." and Gazzo delivered it "under the influence", Toback having been true to his word.
Principle photography took only nineteen days.
Tisa Farrow was working as a waitress and cab driver when director James Toback tapped her for the role.
Danny Aiello, who plays one of Riccamonza's two bodyguards, objected to holding the door or lighting the cigarette of his boss while in character. Those actions were done by actor Ed Marinaro, who played the other thug.
The sex and violence was heavily cut by the British board of film censors when first theatrically released in the UK in 1979.