When director Wim Wenders completed his work, the company Orion was so dissatisfied, that the studio Zoetrope was ordered to re-write and re-shoot nearly the whole movie. Two different versions were produced, but only the second released. According to Wenders the first version, which was finished, is lost.
False rumors about who directed the film entered film history books: Leonard Maltin has commented that the film was "Several years in production, with much of it reportedly re-shot by executive producer Francis Ford Coppola". Moreover, the "Virgin Film Guide" states that "Rumor has it that much of Hammett was re-shot by Coppola". In an interview published on March 25th 2015 by Indie Wire, Wim Wenders made it clear that he directed 100% of both versions of Hammett. Halliwell made the following footnote about the original movie: "This version was abandoned in rough cut and two-thirds of it was shot again in 1981 with a different crew." This rumor is false, too: According to Wenders, the first version of Hammett was completed in editing by him and no 'rough cut' anymore. Two different versions of Hammett were completed by Wenders, but only one released.
The first shoot of the film co-starred Ronee Blakley and Brian Keith in the roles ultimately played by Marilu Henner and Peter Boyle. Director Wim Wenders was married to Blakely at the time of the first shoot. By the time the second version was shot a year-and-a-half later, Wim Wenders had divorced Blakely and her part was recast.
Actors Marilu Henner and Frederic Forrest were married during the production but were divorced afterwards in 1983.