When this movie opened in Nashville theaters, it lasted only two weeks.
Lawyer and politician Fred Thompson, appearing in this film as himself, launching his acting career with this movie.
The movie was made and released two years after its source non-fiction book "Marie: A True Story" by Peter Maas had been published.
Fred Dalton Thompson was actually Marie Ragghianti's real life lawyer for her suit against Governor Blanton and the director was so impressed with him during interviews that they asked him to take the role which he did.
Marie Ragghianti (Sissy Spacek), in real-life, and in this film, was the first woman to head the parole board in Tennessee.