The inspiration for the movie came to screenwriters Perry Howze and Randy Howze, who are real-life brothers, from a true story their grandmother told them about their great-aunt. "Our aunt", related Perry, "was married to the love of her life, a southern stock broker, for one year. They were a young, beautiful, glamorous couple. After a year of bliss, he died of a brain tumor, and our aunt never recovered. She was that committed and devoted to him." Randy continued: "We thought, wouldn't it be a joyous thing if her husband came back into her life. We like that notion of life and love not ending with death, just continuing and changing form."

The newspaper issue at the end shows the date to be Sunday August 7, 1989. August 7, 1989 was a Monday.

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Chances Are/Paperhouse/The 'Burbs/Bert Rigby, You're a Fool/High Hopes (1989)