Grace Kelly was on the board of directors at 20th Century-Fox and the script treatment was sent to her for her reaction. Director Herbert Ross said: "Grace loved the story, and said she'd come out of retirement to play the ballet dancer who opts for marriage. Then Grace showed the script to Prince Rainier and he told her he didn't want her to go back to work".
Audrey Hepburn's biggest film regret was not getting the Anne Bancroft role in Le tournant de la vie (1977). "That was the one film," she later admitted, "that got away from me."
In one scene, Anne Bancroft throws a drink in Shirley MacLaine's face. The moment was scrupulously rehearsed by director Herbert Ross - up to the point where Bancroft throws the drink into MacLaine's face. During rehearsal he had the actress set the glass down on the counter without tossing its contents every time; then continuing with the scene. When everything was ready, Ross took the shot in one take -- the scene you see on film, where Bancroft throws the drink into MacLaine's face, was not rehearsed and MacLaine did not know it was coming. Having only been hit the one time, the shocked look of surprise on MacLaine's face is real.
First of two Academy Award Best Picture nominees to receive 11 nominations without winning any Oscars. This film jointly holds the record with La couleur pourpre (1985) for the film with most Oscar nominations without a single win.
This was one of two films directed by Herbert Ross in 1977 to be nominated for Best Picture of the year. The other was Adieu, je reste (1977).