While filming in Stateville prison a real inmate bonded with one of the film's crew, complaining about the hardships of prison life, and so the crew person then helped them escape by smuggling them out by hiding them on top of a truck. The inmate was caught two days later driving down the South Dakota highway.
The story of the film is based on Rick Cluchey's relationship with his wife, the journalist Barbara Bladen.
Stage 7 at Screen Gems Studios was built for this film in November 1986.