Warner Bros. Pictures' 1500th release.
A 90-minute television movie titled Sidekicks (1974), directed by Burt Kennedy and based on this movie, was broadcast in March of 1974. Unlike this movie, the television movie was set after the Civil War. Louis Gossett Jr. reprised his role from the original film, but the James Garner character was now played by Larry Hagman. The television movie was intended as a pilot for a series that ultimately was not made.
The first time that James Garner had returned to work for Warner Brothers in more than ten years.
Based on Richard Alan Simmons' original story "Skin Game". The screenplay was written by Peter Stone, who did not receive on-screen credit, and requested that his name be taken off the credits because his screenplay was re-written by a second writer, thereby altering the theme, the plot and, most importantly, the characters.
However, at least one line remained that assuredly was by Peter Stone. At 1:24:50, when Jason summons the slaves to "attack" Quincy, he does so with this command: "ya-ha-ma-cundah". That expression is also found in Stone's libretto and screenplay for 1776 (1972) during the song, "Molasses to Rum".
However, at least one line remained that assuredly was by Peter Stone. At 1:24:50, when Jason summons the slaves to "attack" Quincy, he does so with this command: "ya-ha-ma-cundah". That expression is also found in Stone's libretto and screenplay for 1776 (1972) during the song, "Molasses to Rum".
The NAACP protested the film after learning that Louis Gossett Jr.'s stunt double was a white man in blackface.