Supposedly because of an error by the film’s credits designer, the word “and” was shortened to “a,” resulting in the nonsensical title Rat Pfink A Boo Boo. However, some fans of director-writer Ray Dennis Steckler claim that he invented that excuse years later. Steckler was known for his ridiculous titles, and this one may have been inspired by the then popular term “A-Go-Go,” used in Monster A Go-Go! and Psycho A Go-Go! (both 1965, see entries). By the time of the film’s Sep 1966 release at the Esquire Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, DV used the title Fat Pfink and Boo Boo. Later, home video and DVD releases also called the film Rat Pfink and Boo Boo on the covers, but the film itself retained the original title.
       The ultra-low-budget director was the subject of an article in the 22 Aug 1965 LAT, in which he claimed to have already finished Rat Pfink a Boo Boo, but not to have found a distributor yet, possibly because of the title. Steckler said that exploitation film distributor Mike Ripps gave him the money he needed to finish the film. None of his actors were members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) because he could not afford to pay union rates. The film was shot without sound, and all dialogue and sound effects were added in post-production.
       Characters “Rat Pfink” and “Boo Boo” were said to be a parody of “Batman” and “Robin” on ABC’s then current Batman television series (1966-1968). However, Steckler told the 9 Sep 1966 DV that he made the film two years earlier, in 1964 or perhaps early 1965, a full year before the television show first aired on 12 Jan 1966.
       Rat Pfink and Boo Boo’s pledge to be “friends to those who have no friends, enemies to those who make them enemies,” was taken from the Boston Blackie television series (1951-1953).
       An early scene was filmed in front of the Capitol Records Tower at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, CA. Another Hollywood scene was shot on the west side of the 1900 and 2000 blocks of N. Western Avenue, including the corner of Franklin Avenue.
       A review in the 9 Sep 1966 DV praised three “agreeable” soundtrack songs and leading lady Carolyn Brandt, but concluded that Steckler’s “unlimited patience and persistence” in making the film were “misdirected.”