The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover

Director Larry Cohen wanted to film at various authentic locations but was repeatedly turned down for permission. However, when First Lady Betty Ford - a former dancer - found out that Dan Dailey was in Washington to make a film, she invited him and Broderick Crawford to the White House for lunch, as she had always liked Dailey's films and work. Larry Cohen then started calling locations such as the FBI's training facility in Quantico, Virginia, and said that he wanted to film there but couldn't do so the next day because the cast was having lunch at the White House. Every location, likely supposing that the film had official backing, soon made themselves available.

Only three agents fired at John Dillinger, not the six as depicted in this film, and they only fired a total of six shots.