The film includes small appearances by Peggy McKay, Joe Unger, Hank Worden, Charlotte Stewart, and Alan Beckwith.

He meets his old friend, Brother Bud (Harry Dean Stanton), a big-time con man into faith healing and fencing stolen cars, at his revival tent outside a small town.

Universal test-released the film in two markets under the title Hold Onto Your Dreams to disappointing returns, and initially chose to abandon it as well.

Based on this reaction, Landmark Theaters booked the film in 1985 for showings in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston, without advertising support from the studio.

"[5] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote that the film has a "raffish tone" and is "exuberantly nutty"; he also praised the casting.