Director Milos Forman with screenwriters Jaroslav Papousek and Ivan Passer were in the small town of Vrchabi, trying to concentrate on a screenplay after their success with Loves of a Blonde (1965). One evening, on a lark, they went to a real firemen's ball in the town. What they saw there was so remarkable, they abandoned the script they were working on and began writing this film.
Few professional actors were used for this picture. Many were residents of the small town of Vrchlabi, Czech Republic where the film was shot, including many of the actual volunteer firemen of the town.
Milos Forman was offered to direct One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) after producer Michael Douglas saw this film and was impressed by his work.
The last film director Milos Forman made in his native Czechoslovakia before moving to the United States.