The "Falconhurst" novel series of books are (in order of publication): Mandingo (1957), Drum (1962), Master of Falconhurst (1964), Falconhurst Fancy (1966), The Mustee (1967), Heir to Falconhurst (1968), Flight to Falconhurst (1971), Mistress of Falconhurst (1973), Six-Fingered Stud (1975), Taproots of Falconhurst (1978), Scandal of Falconhurst (1980), Rogue of Falconhurst (1983), Miz Lucretia of Falconhurst (1985), Mandingo Master (1986), and Falconhurst Fugitive (1988).
Steve Carver replaced Burt Kennedy as director. Producer Dino De Laurentiis and Kennedy had creative differences and Kennedy was fired and replaced with Carver. It was the only time Kennedy was ever fired from a movie. Most of the footage seen in the film was actually directed by him.
Producer Dino De Laurentiis was so displeased with the final result that he took his name from above the title.
Around at least a dozen personnel worked on both Drum (1976) and Mandingo (1975). This included star Ken Norton, screenwriter Norman Wexler, actresses Brenda Sykes and Lillian Hayman, costume designer Ann Roth, as well as producer Dino De Laurentiis.
The film is a sequel to Mandingo (1975) and was made and released about a year after the first film.