This film contains many of the original actors from the long running stage-production, with the actors who originated the Bonnie Bedelia and Beau Bridges roles (Mary Margaret Lewis and Mitch Carter) playing the receptionist Ethel and security guard in the mental institution.
Delta Burke's role was originally supposed to be played as a larger woman, but when she showed up on the set having lost a lot of weight, a pivotal scene was played as if she had lost the weight, but her neglectful husband hadn't noticed. (The role was originally to be played by Patrika Darbo.)
The character of Juanita does not appear in the original play. She proved so popular in the film, however, that Del Shores wrote alternate versions of scene 2 and 4 for theaters that wanted to include her.
Final film of William Phipps.
The play does not inter-cut the four story lines. The scenes with Sissy, LaVonda, and Latrelle in the house run together as one continuous scene, followed by the scene of G.W., Wardell, and Odell, and then Brother Boy's session with Dr. Eve., and finally the funeral. Ty's role is a single monologue before each scene, before he finally appears in person at the funeral.