Famous French writer - and writer of this movie - Michel Audiard does the voice of Augustin the myna bird.
The film opened in New York City in April 1978 under the title "Dear Detective." But Columbia Pictures objected because the title was similar to that studio's upcoming film "The Cheap Detective." The U.S. title of "Dear Detective" was somewhat arbitrary, since the translation of the French title "Tendre Poulet" is "Tender Chicken." Thus, the U.S. distributor of the film, Cinema 5, agreed to change the title to "Dear Inspector" for future U.S. engagements.