When new Columbia Pictures chief David Puttnam first watched this movie, he told Director Richard Benjamin that it was one of the worst movies he had ever seen, according to Editor Jim Clark, who was drafted in to see if he could rescue it.
When Roy hands over the driver's license to Jeff the birth date is August 23, 1970, which was the real birthdate of River Phoenix.
River Phoenix once said of this movie, "I really didn't like the way the Russians were portrayed, it was a bit stereotypical". Apparently, Phoenix thought the whole film's storyline was incredibly far-fetched.
Director Richard Benjamin once said of working with River Phoenix, "He is not only a superb actor, but he is real. Only the truth is in him, and it's wonderful to see."