Lynda Carter has a small role as the lead character's girlfriend. It was one of her first roles before becoming Wonder Woman. This film was her debut.
This TV movie is a sequel to the theatrical film Shamus (1973) starring Burt Reynolds. Producer Robert Weitman produced both movies. It was once reported in the media that Reynolds intended to appear in this sequel, but it didn't happen. Rod Taylor player the lead role instead. The only actors to appear in this film's only sequel A Matter of Wife... and Death (1975) were Larry Block and Joe Santos who reprized their roles as Springy and Lieutenant Vince Promuto respectively. Larry Block's character actually died in the first film, yet they brought him back for this one.
The was intended to be a pilot fir a TV series.
The original 1972 Burt Reynolds film took place in New York, but the location for this proposed TV series was moved to Los Angeles to save on production costs.
Originally scheduled for broadcast by NBC on 10 April 1975, it was postponed until 3 May 1975 due to coverage of President Gerald Ford's address to the nation.