After the success of Easy Rider (1969), Universal Pictures hit upon the idea of letting young filmmakers make "semi-independent" films for low budgets in hopes of generating similar profits. The idea was to make five movies for low budgets ($1 million or less), not interfere in the filmmaking process and give the directors final cut. The other movies were: The Last Movie (1971), Taking Off (1971), Silent Running (1972), American Graffiti (1973).
Voted best film of the year 1971 by the magazine "Films and Filming".
According to Peter Fonda in "Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond (2016)", he insisted that Vilmos Zsigmond go by his real name in the credits. Prior to this film, Zsigmond had used the name William Zsigmond because he was told it was easier to pronounce.