Janet Leigh wanted to co-star with daughter Jamie Lee Curtis in the dark comedy about a mother-daughter relationship based on the relationship of Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher.

Jerry filmed scenes as the father of Suzanne Vale, but they were cut.

Debbie wanted to play the part of Doris Mann, because it was based on her, in Carrie Fisher's thinly- veiled real life story, but director Mike Nichols chose MacLaine instead.