Writer Markman used elements of "The Maltese Falcon" and "China Town" for his script.
This was the eighth time writer Cash Markman presented a Bill Harlow comedy/mystery, but the first time it was not directed by Scotty Fox. Rick Savage had played the role twice ("Who Shaved Trinity Loren" and "Unforgetable," both from 1989). Mike Horner, who appears here in a different role, played Harlow once, in 1989's "Who Shaved Aja." Randy West played him twice (1989's "Rear View" and its 1990 sequel, "Another Rear View"), and Randy Spears wore the gumshoes for 1990's "This Year's Blonde" and 1992's "Sweet Target." All were well received. As presented here, director Canterbury was less comfortable with the genre, and Tony Tedeschi less suitable as Harlow. The character, who was based on Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlow, would return when Markman began directing his own scripts - and, of all the actors who played the part before, he would choose Randy Spears as the perfect embodiment of the hardboiled P.I.