Audie Murphy and Budd Boetticher, whose careers were in decline at the time, formed their own company, Fipco, to make films such as this one. Money was tight and this film is several minutes shorter than scripted. Murphy spent 1-1/2 years fundraising for completion and post-production.
This film was to originally star Peter Fonda as the kid.
Fipco Productions, Inc. didn't register the film until 23rd of June 1982, under the registration number RE-754-012 (Copyright Number-PA140091).Owing to legal problems, the film did not screen in New York until 1982.
That was the second time in Audie Murphy's career where he played Jesse James's character; the first time was Kansas Raiders, back in 1950.