Shelley Duvall owned the film rights to Tom Robbins' EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES. Despite being signed by WB in 1980 to write and star in her own adaptation of the book, the project fell through and she gave up the rights after four years, long before Gus Van Sant took over the rights.

Shelley Duvall had been suggested to Milos Forman for the role of Candy, the prostitute. When Forman screened THIEVES LIKE US to see if she was right for the role, he spotted Louise Fletcher, and cast her as Nurse Ratched.

Robert Altman offered the role of the grooms ex girlfriend to Duvall who declined the role. It was then taken by Pam Dawber.