It was Michael Crichton's first work as a director, though his theatrical directorial debut would not premiere until the following year.

[2] Barry Diller wanted to buy the film rights for Crichton's novel to make it an ABC Movie of the Week.

Diller was amenable, but insisted that a more experienced writer, Robert Dozier, do the screenplay.

"[3] ABC were so impressed by the quality of the movie they held it back until December to screen it.

It aired opposite the Carol Burnett special Once Upon a Mattress and a repeat of NBC's adaptation of The Snow Goose.

[3] The critic from the Los Angeles Times wrote that "you cannot say that as a director, at least in this maiden effort, Crichton achieves the bone tingling suspense of his novel but Pursuit nonetheless has its own fascination... Marshall is superb; Gazzara, as usual is excellent and heads a fine support cast... Crichton attempted here a realistic, newsreel look to the film which is at its worst when real newsreels from a real political convention are inserted.