* CastTheExpert: The opening scene where the vets in the hospital are talking was totally unscripted. They were real Vietnam vets discussing their own views about the war. Creator/JonVoight was supposed to have added to the dialog, but out of respect stayed silent and listened.
* CastTheRunnerUp: Creator/JonVoight had been considered for the role of the husband, but after becoming involved with the film, he campaigned to play the paraplegic veteran.
* CreatorBacklash: Nancy Dowd, who wrote the original script and received a "Story By" credit, disowned the movie, calling it a "male supremacist film: men choose between ideas and women choose between men."
* DuelingMovies: Came out the same year as ''Film/TheDeerHunter'', another film dealing with the after-effects of UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar.
* IronyAsSheIsCast: Creator/JonVoight, playing a Vietnam veteran, had participated in the anti-war movement.
* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/BruceDern isn't playing a villain or a psycho for once.
* RealitySubtext: Like Sally, her character, Creator/JaneFonda had been under surveillance by the FBI.
* RealSongThemeTune: "Out of Time", from Music/TheRollingStones' ''Music/{{Aftermath|Album}}'' album.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/JaneFonda had wanted Creator/JohnSchlesinger to direct, but he declined as he felt that the Vietnam experience should be filmed by an American director.
** Creator/WarrenBeatty, Creator/AlPacino and Creator/SylvesterStallone turned down the role of Luke Martin.
** Fonda wanted Creator/MerylStreep for Vi but Streep had already signed up to appear in a play.
** Nancy Dowd's original script (called ''[[WorkingTitle Buffalo Ghosts]]'') would have focused more on Sally and Vi and how their lives were changed by the war. Fonda brought in Waldo Salt to rewrite the movie to emphasize the relationship between Sally and Luke.
* Musician Guthrie Thomas was originally cast as Bill, but he convinced Creator/HalAshby he should cast an actor who could play music, not a musician, so Creator/RobertCarradine was cast instead.

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