This movie represented the reuniting of old Hollywood stars Pat O'Brien and Myrna Loy. The two, who play Burt Reynolds' parents, had previously starred together in Consolation Marriage (1931) 47 years earlier.
In one scene, Sally Field is wearing a football jersey with the number 22 on it. This was a number that Burt Reynolds wore at one point during his own football career and subsequently wore in the movies The Longest Yard and Semi-Tough where he portrayed football players.
As Sonny is going to look in the ICU, the hospital speaker says "Dr. Cambern, please call intensive care" and "Dr. Cambern, never mind." Donn Cambern was the film's editor. The messege was also said by Burt Reynolds.
James Best, who served as associate producer and has a small part as a pacemaker patient, was hired by Burt Reynolds to rewrite the script to make his character more in-depth.