This was the first ever movie to use the DGA pseudonym Alan Smithee. After major re-cutting by Paramount without director Jud Taylor's involvement, Taylor demanded that his name be taken off the picture.
After disastrous sneak previews Paramount Execs toyed with the idea of screening "Fade In" exclusively in art houses, but the plan was scrapped and the film left on the shelf, six years later when Burt Reynolds was considerably more popular, Paramount sold it to CBS TV, who ran it as a late night movie on November 8 1973 it didn't police any massive ratings, but it was received better than in 1969.
Throughout his career Burt Reynolds has made a number of movies that examine movie-making and this film is one of them. The pictures include Fade In (1973) (location filming & westerns); Silent Movie (1976) and Nickelodeon (1976) (silent films); Best Friends (1982) (scriptwriting & Hollywood); Hooper (1978) (stuntwork and Hollywood); The Player (1992) (Hollywood); Boogie Nights (1997) (adult films); The Last Producer (2000) (producers and Hollywood); The Hollywood Sign (2001) and A Bunch of Amateurs (2008) (actors and Hollywood).
Whilst it was buried in the studio morgue for six years Burt Reynolds tried to buy the movie.
From the beginning of this picture Burt Reynolds was unable to communicate with his leading lady "Barbara Loden was on a different frequency" he says "I couldn't tune in, couldn't find the key to turn her on. I kept waiting for her to let loose And blow me right out of the tub, but it never happened on film."