Leading cast members Maximilian Schell and Rod Steiger apparently swapped roles just before production begun.
This picture is ranked at the Number #1 spot in the book "The 50 Greatest Jewish Movies: A Critic's Ranking Of The Very Best" (1998) by Kathryn Bernheimer.
Star Rod Steiger in preparation for his role as Reb Saunders spent about eight hours a day for about two weeks learning the Yiddish language according to an article published in the 29th August 1980 edition of show-business trade-paper 'Daily Variety.'
The picture in 1982 was included in the ''Top Ten Films of the Year'' list by the National Board of Review (USA).
Cast members, in preparation to play their parts, took part in Hassidic retreats, and studied the Talmud with a Jewish rabbi.
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