The film was intended to depict gay cruising as it existed at the Mineshaft, but that bar is not named in the movie; because the Mineshaft would not allow filming, scenes from the movie were filmed at the Hellfire Club, which was decorated to resemble the Mineshaft. Regulars from the Mineshaft appeared as extras. Scenes were shot in streets and other locations near the Mineshaft. Pacino attended as part of researching his role. (A bar called the Mineshaft does not appear in the novel which, with substantial changes, was the inspiration for the film.)