The Summary for this unviewed film was based on the 14 Jul 1975 Box review and a theatrical trailer.
       Working titles for the film included Super Dude and Face of Night.
       Film rights to Bernard Brunner’s 1967 novel, The Face of Night, were initially acquired by CBS Films, as noted in a 9 Apr 1967 HR news brief. Bing Crosby Productions later attempted to purchase the rights from the H. N. Swanson, Inc. agency, but producer Martin Rackin had recently acquired rights through a different agency, Molson-Stanton Associates, as noted in the 1 Jan 1973 Publishers Weekly.
       An 11 Mar 1970 HR news item stated that Albert Maltz had been hired to write; however, he is credited onscreen by his pseudonym, John B. Sherry, and shares screenwriting credit with Lee Lazich. According to a 29 Nov 1972 Var news item, Rackin researched the film by spending time with the Los Angeles Police Department’s narcotics squad.
       Items in the 14 Dec 1972 and 10 Jan 1973 HR announced that principal photography would begin 15 Jan 1973; however, the start date was delayed to 23 Jan 1973, according to an HR news item of the same date. A 15 Mar 1973 DV brief reported that filming ended 13 Mar 1973, on director Henry Hathaway’s seventy-fifth birthday. The production budget was $900,000, according to a 15 Jan 1975 Var article.
       The 14 Jul 1975 Box review stated that Warner Bros. was the film’s initial domestic distributor; however, after two test engagements, Brut Productions took over distribution. According to the 15 Jan 1975 Var, Warner Bros. tested the film in Baltimore, MD, and Richmond, VA, before putting it in abeyance. Although the test screenings likely took place in 1974, specific dates could not be determined. After Warner Bros. backed out, Brut Productions’ George Barrie arranged a 15 Jan 1975 opening in East Orange, NJ, using a four-wall distribution model. By Jul 1975, Dimension Pictures had acquired distribution rights and released the film with the new title Super Dude, according to Box.
       A 22 Sep 1976 HR item reported that Super Dude would be re-released in a four-film “Dusk-to-Dawn Marathon,” along with Boss Nigger (1975, see entry), Tough (1974, see entry), and Twilight People (1972, see entry).
       Hangup was director Henry Hathaway’s last film.