Evan Wright's (Robert De Niro) opinions regarding the lack of sex in Marvin's (Robert Wuhl) script was inspired by real-life conversations that writer and director Barry Primus had with producers while attempting to find a backer for the film.
Barry Primus had been shopping his script around at different studios for several years before his good friend Robert De Niro agreed to back the film, and take a co-starring role.
The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Martin Landau, Robert De Niro, Ernest Borgnine, and Christopher Walken; and two Oscar nominees: Danny Aiello and Laurie Metcalf.
Robert De Niro and Danny Aiello appeared in Le Parrain, 2ᵉ partie (1974) and Il était une fois en Amérique (1984).