everett de roche wrote the script and originally bruce beresford was announced as director. he dropped out and then arch nicholson was hired. crawfords and hbo wanted bess armstrong to play the lead. actors equity objected, so sigrid thornton was accepted as a compromise. however two months prior to shooting thornton fell pregnant and hbo and crawfords insisted on armstrong. actors equity would not relent and the film shut down, despite the fact $700,000 had already been spent. the project was later re activated when rachel ward (a british actress who had moved to australia) was approved. the movie was then shot in australia during 1985 over 12 5-day weeks at bairnsdale near the gippsland coast and in the grampians.