Most of the supporting cast were retired professional musicians.
The principal actors and actresses were trained to sing, but the scene of them singing the title quartet from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto was cut from the movie, but is heard playing over the end credits.
Dustin Hoffman's first completed directorial effort. In 1978, he began directing Le récidiviste (1978), but after a few days, he decided it was too difficult to both star and direct, and asked Ulu Grosbard to take over.
Beecham House, named after Sir Thomas Beecham, was modelled after La Casa di Riposo per Musicisti founded by Giuseppe Verdi.