According to Bob Thomas' 1973 biography "Marlon: Portrait of the Artist as a Rebel", producer Alan Miller, appalled at his star's lack of interest in the film and his lackluster performance, pinned a bit of doggerel about Marlon Brando, whose character is called "Mateo" by his Mexican friend in the film: "Mateo, his heart / It bleeds for the mass, / But the people he works with / He kicks in the ass."
According to co-star John Saxon, Marlon Brando's relationship with director Sidney J. Furie got to the point where Brando, when getting ready to do a close-up, would be reading a book. He would only lower the book when Furie yelled "Action". When he yelled "Cut", Brando would raise the book again.