Gunn was based on the television series Peter Gunn, created by writer-director Blake Edwards, which aired on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) network from Sep 1958 to Sep 1960, and on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network from Oct 1960 to Sep 1961. Feature film rights were first acquired by Official Films, whose vice-president, Bob Blees, discussed with the star of the television series, Craig Stevens, the possibility of reprising his role in the movie version, according to a 14 Jul 1965 Var brief. The 28 Mar 1966 LAT later reported that Blake Edwards would produce the film for Paramount Pictures, with whom he had just signed a four-picture deal. Edwards envisioned the project as the start of a series in the vein of the “James Bond” pictures, as noted in various sources including the 7 Oct 1966 DV. He did not plan to re-use the Peter Gunn title, and instead suggested The Murder Bag to Paramount, but the studio insisted on simply shortening it to Gunn, the 29 Mar 1967 DV noted. A budget of $1.5 million was set, according to the 5 Dec 1966 DV. Craig Stevens was promised a percentage of the profits in addition to his salary.
       Although an item in the 11 Apr 1966 DV stated that Boris Sagal was “on call to direct,” the 17 Apr 1966 NYT named Edwards as director and William Bowers as the screenwriter. Three months later, the 18 Jul 1966 DV announced that William Friedkin would direct. However, Friedkin soon left the project over creative differences. He was quoted in the 1 Nov 1966 DV as saying, “Blake Edwards is ‘Peter Gunn’ and he should direct it.” DV added that the split was amicable. Edwards, along with co-writer William Peter Blatty, also took over script writing duties from William Bowers.
       The role of “Samantha” was first filled by June Fairchild, a former go-go dancer at the Sunset Strip nightclub Gazzarri’s, who was set to make her feature film debut, the 14 Nov 1966 DV announced. However, a 21 Dec 1966 Var brief indicated that Fairchild was injured during production and had to be replaced by Sherry Jackson.
       An 18 Nov 1966 DV production chart noted that filming began on 14 Nov 1966. Location shooting was done in Los Angeles, CA, where one sequence was staged on a handball court at the Westside Jewish Community Center. Following the completion of principal photography in early 1967, a day of re-shoots took place on 25 Apr 1967, according to that day’s DV. The scene to be re-shot, showing Sherry Jackson in a “skimpy baby doll nightie,” was considered too racy by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which threatened to withhold a Production Code seal if no change was made.
       Lola Albright, who had originated the role of “Edie” in the Peter Gunn television series, had wanted to reprise her role in the film, as stated in a 26 Jul 1967 interview with LAT. However, when she was not cast early in the process, she gave up hope and took a part in The Way West (1967, see entry). Edwards subsequently offered it to her but she was unavailable. Larry Dobkin was also offered a part, according to the 4 Oct 1966 DV, and the following actors and actresses were identified as cast members in items published in LAT between Nov 1966 and Jan 1967: Jim Halbroeder; Bruce Jacobs; Martha Friedrich; Joni Webster; Walter Maslow; Jack Bernardi; George Sawaya; and Bill Bennett, a Minneapolis, MN, disc jockey who was set to make his motion picture debut.
       Henry Mancini, who had composed the score for the television series and incorporated its main theme into the film score, performed as a piano player in a bordello sequence, as noted in a 15 Dec 1966 DV item. Appearing as a band in nightclub sequences was the real-life band The Gordian Knot; an item in the 22 Dec 1966 DV identified the band members as Jim Weatherly, Pat Kincade, Leland Russell, J.D. Lobue, and Dulin Lancaster.