 This film was adapted from a short story written by  Roy N. Sickner (qv), an actor and stuntman. Writer  Walon Green (qv) wrote the script, which was then rewritten by  Sam Peckinpah (qv). Green argued that Peckinpahs changes did not  warrant his getting a screenplay credit. After this dispute the  Writers Guild changed the rules and now a finished script must have  at least 60% of it written by the director before he or she can  claim a writer credit. Green, Sickner and Peckinpah all shared  Academy award nominations for best screenplay (the only Oscar  nomination Peckinpah ever received in his entire career.) They  didnt win.