Made a year after True Grit (1969), it is based on a novel by the same author (Charles Portis), was adapted by the same screenwriter (Marguerite Roberts), and two of its leads (Glen Campbell and Kim Darby) starred in True Grit.
Michele Carey was offered the part of Maria but she declined due to a contractual issue while filming Changes (1969). She also stated it would be consecutive films working with actors in their first films, such as Joe Namath (and it was Glen Campbell's second film) because on Changes, she was working with Kent Lane in his first film.