Sylvester Stallone turned down the male lead in Romancing the Stone (1984) and the lead in Beverly Hills Cop (1984) (before it was re-written as a comedy) to make this film.
In an interview, Sylvester Stallone once said that if there were any films he wished he hadn't done, this film was one of them.
Sylvester Stallone sings in this movie. This was not the first movie where Stallone was heard singing, as he had sung the title song for Paradise Alley (1978).
According to her autobiography "My Life and Other Unfinished Business", Dolly Parton states that she considers the soundtrack album for this movie as some of the best work that she has done. Parton also declares that the song "What a Heartache" is a personal favorite of hers, Parton having re-recorded the track twice since the movie, on the 1991 "Eagle When She Flies" and 2002 "Halos & Horns" albums.
This film earned Sylvester Stallone his first of many Razzie Award nominations (and later the win) for Worst Actor.