Shirley Knight, who plays a pregnant woman in the film, was actually pregnant during the making of this movie.
Much of this film was shot in and around Ogallala, Nebraska. Some landmarks visible in this film remain in the area, especially Front Street, a tourist attraction visible behind Shirley Knight as she stands in the phone booth. (That phone booth was removed in the 1990s.)
One of Francis Ford Coppola's top five favorite films of his own.
Some of this film was shot in and around Clarksburg, WV. They spent several days in the area.
The brief flashback scene in which James Caan rakes leaves at school was shot on Hofstra University's campus where Francis Ford Coppola had studied drama just ten years prior.
The drive in scene was filmed at the old Skyline Drive In on Rt. 19 south of Clarksburg.
The flashback to Robert Duvall's character failing to save his wife from a burning house was shot north of Brule, Nebraska, with the help of the local volunteer fire department. Duvall's wife is played by director Francis Ford Coppola's wife, Eleanor Coppola (uncredited).