The Film:
- California Doubling: The M.I.T. and Sistine Chapel scenes were shot in New York City on sets.
- Dawson Casting: Flan is described as being 44 years old in the play; he was played on stage by the 58 year old John Cunningham, and the movie by the 58 year old Donald Sutherland. Stockard Channing, by contrast, was only a few years older than Ouisa (described as 43 in the play).
- Fake American: Canadian Donald Sutherland playing Flan.
- Fake Nationality: The British Ian McKellen as the South African Geoffrey.
- Gay Panic: Will Smith refused to kiss Anthony Michael Hall just before their kissing scene, so a camera trick was used showing only the back of their heads. In an interview, Smith stated that Denzel Washington advised him not to kiss a man onscreen, for it would harm his career. Smith stated that he regretted not going through with it, saying, "it was very immature on my part."
- What Could Have Been:
- Michael Douglas was offered the role of Flan.
- Meryl Streep was interested in playing Ouisa because she liked the play, and she had worked with Fred Schepisi on Plenty (1985) and Evil Angels (1988).
- Cuba Gooding Jr. was considered for Paul.
