After its original 1979 release to bad reviews, director Joan Micklin Silver reedited the film for its 1982 release with the original title of Ann Beattie's novel and with a different ending than what was in the novel. Silver hated the "Head over Heels" title (as did Beattie) so she restored that, but changed the ending to what she felt was more in touch with reality, albeit more melancholy. With the happy ending removed, the film received much better reviews and something of a cult following. Unfortunately, Gloria Grahame did not get to see the success and popularity of the new version; she died October 5, 1981 before the revised version was released in 1982.
Shot entirely on location in Salt Lake City, Utah with real snow, sleet, and cold temperatures.
Director Joan Micklin Silver loved working with Peter Riegert so much that she cast him as the lead in Crossing Delancey (1988) almost nine years after this film was released.
Griffin Dunne, one of the film's producers with his partner Amy Robinson, makes a special appearance as John Heard's sister's boyfriend in the film. They would work together again in After Hours (1985), a few years later.
To this day, the original 1979 theatrical release under its renamed title "Head Over Heels" has never been released in any format. Only the 1982 re-release has been issued on home video and digital platforms.
Ann Beattie: the author of the original novel, plays a waitress in a diner scene and was paid $26 for the non-speaking part. (A speaking part would have paid $225.)