 When United Artists executives David Field and Claire Townsend, the  films biggest supporters, left for 20th Century Fox, the film  became a victim of internal politics. United Artists senior domestic  sales and marketing vice president Jerry Esbin saw the film and  decided that it did not have any commercial possibilities. Passer  did not see his film with a paying audience until the Houston Film  Festival many weeks later, where the film won Best Picture, Best  Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor (John Heard).