Seymour Cassel was set to star but left shortly before filming began. Kris Kristofferson was a last minute replacement.
The soundtrack for this movie actually features four Kristofferson songs. Three of those tracks, "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)," "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33," and "Breakdown (A Long Way from Home)," all from his (now legendary) album "The Silver Tongued Devil and I" which was released in 1971, the year prior to this film's release.
Gene Hackman was on the verge of stardom from his role in "The French Connection" when he appeared in the above film. He left for New York to start work on that film the day after he finished his role in this movie.
Went into production under the title " Dealer".
Roscoe Lee Browne filmed his entire role in a single shot at the start of the film, his role being concluded before the end of the opening credits sequence.