Charles Bronson was considered for the role of Jerry Fanon. Rumors had it that Bronson turned this movie down because the producers had refused to write in a role for his wife, Jill Ireland. With much of the pre-production crew already on-location in the Caribbean, Sir Lew Grade wanted to shut down the production when Bronson pulled out. Realizing how much money he had already sunk into a movie that had not properly secured its star actors and actresses, Grade saved face by moving ahead using James Coburn as a replacement for Bronson.
The movie was originally written as a Dirty Harry (1971) sequel, with a story idea conceived by writer-director John Milius, and Michael Hastings contributing to the script.
Veteran actor Victor Mature made a cameo at the request of Writer, Producer, and Director Michael Winner, who wanted someone instantly recognizable for the role of the one of the richest people in the world. "I worked for eight hours on one scene", he laughed.
This movie featured Jake LaMotta, who was soon to be portrayed by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980).
Writer, Producer, and Director Michael Winner says in his biography that O.J. Simpson remained his close friend all over the years, despite the fact that Simpson was accused of a double murder charge in which Winner was certain he was guilty.
Victor Mature: As Harold Everett. Mature did a cameo at the request of Writer, Producer, and Director Michael Winner, who wanted someone instantly recognizable for the role of the one of the richest people in the world. "I worked for eight hours on one scene", he laughed.