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Martin Brest was originally hired as director but was fired after 12 days of shooting because of an on-set argument with the producers, and replaced with John Badham.

Several of the scenes shot by Brest remain in the final film.

Badham said that " had taken a somewhat dark approach to the story and the way it was shot.

It was like and Sheedy were doing some Nazi undercover thing.

So it was my job to make it seem like they were having fun, and that it was exciting.

" According to Badham, Broderick and Sheedy were " stiff as boards " when they came onto the sound stage, having both Brest's dark vision and the idea that they were going to get fired in their minds.

Badham did 12 – 14 takes of the first shot to loosen the actors up.

At one point, Badham decided to have a race with the two actors around the sound stage with the one who came last having to sing a song to the crew.

Badham lost and sang " The Happy Wanderer ", the silliest song he could think of.