According to Bruce Dern's autobiography, it was Walter Matthau's idea to have Dern, known mainly as a character actor, share top billing with him for this film, a gesture for which Dern was most grateful.
While most movies might film an exterior shot and film the corresponding interiors scenes elsewhere or on a studio set, this movie was filmed at real San Francisco locations, with the corresponding interior scenes filmed in those same locations.
The novel on which the film was based was set in Stockholm, Sweden.
In the original screenplay, Martin was supposed to laugh at the end, true to the film's title. This idea was abandoned, either by director Stuart Rosenberg or Walter Matthau during shooting.
The same distinctive green station wagon with wood paneling was used in multiple scenes as an "automobile extra", and appeared throughout the film in background shots.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
By what name was The Laughing Policeman (1973) officially released in India in English?
Answer