Director Mike Nichols had originally wanted Michelle Pfeiffer to wear a red hooded sweatshirt for this movie's final act. She refused, as she thought it would harm this movie's credibility.
James Spader's stuntman did all of his stunts without wires or protection, almost greatly injuring himself during a scene in which Stewart is thrown onto the stone steps of the guest house.
At the beginning of production, Jack Nicholson told Special Make-up Effects Supervisor Rick Baker that he was allergic to spirit gum. While he initially didn't believe him, Baker agreed to use a specific medical adhesive on Nicholson which made hand laying the hair on him very difficult as opposed to using spirit gum. One day after he made up James Spader using spirit gum, Baker unintentionally used the same bottle of spirit gum on Nicholson. Baker soon realized what he had done and hoped that Jack wouldn't find out seeing how nothing happened during the application. The next day, Baker was horrified to see that Nicholson wasn't lying as he entered the make-up trailer with large red swells on his face. Nicholson said, "Ricky boy, you used spirit gum, didn't you?" Baker apologized for the confusion and Nicholson stated, "Well, let's just hope it doesn't happen again." Fortunately for everyone, it didn't happen again.
Jack Nicholson had been trying to get this movie made with his friend, Screenwriter and Associate Producer Jim Harrison, for twelve years.
Michelle Pfeiffer adopted a baby girl, became engaged, and got married - all during the making of this movie.
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