The 29 Jan 1975 Var reported that John Nichols’s novel, The Milagro Beanfield War, would be adapted by Dalsa Films. Six months later, items in the 9 Jul 1975 Var and 16 Jul 1975 HR noted that the film would be produced by Robert W. Christiansen and Rick Rosenberg through their company, Chris/Rose Productions, in association with Paramount Pictures. Writer Tracy Keenan Wynn was attached to write the screenplay. However, the 16 Jan 1978 HR and 18 Jan 1978 Var reported that the production was being moved to Lorimar, with Leonard Gardner brought on to write the script and Michael Wadleigh hired to direct. According to production notes in AMPAS library files, producer Moctesuma Esparza obtained the book’s rights a year later in Dec 1979. The following month, actor-director Robert Redford became attached to the production to direct. The picture was noted in the 5 Jun 1985 HR to be distributed through Tri-Star Pictures. Actor Richard “Cheech” Marin was considered to star in the film, but the 6 Sep 1987 LAT stated that Marin lost the part after “Redford had changed his mind.” According to the 25 Jul 1987 LAT, actress Elizabeth Peña was offered a part in the film, but declined.
       The 20 Jul 1986 LAT reported that principal photography was set to begin 4 Aug 1986 in Chimayo, NM, but the production was “chased out” due to a protest led by local businessman Harold Martinez. Moving to the northern town of Truchas, NM, production notes listed that filming began in Aug 1986 and lasted until late Nov 1986. Additional New Mexico locations included: Cochiti Lake; Espanola; Los Alamos; and Santa Fe. Reports in the 10 Jul 1986 HR and 18 Aug 1986 DV listed the picture’s budget as approximately $10 million.
       During filming, the 23 Oct 1986 LAT reported that producer Larry Cano, land activist Reies Tijerina, businessman Ralph Rivera and director Frank Zuniga, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, CA, on 22 Oct 1986 against Esparza Productions, Robert Redford, screenwriter David S. Ward, and MCA for “copyright infringement, unfair completion, defamation and invasion of privacy.” Cano claimed the screenplay for The Milagro Beanfield War was heavily based off of Tijerina’s life in the 1960s, and caused waning interested in his own film titled, King Tiger. The 21 Nov 1986 HR announced Tijerina had dropped out as a plaintiff.
       According to a 9 Jul 1987 LAT item, the film’s opening was scheduled for 20 Nov 1987, but was moved to early 1988. The 17 Oct 1987 L.B. Press-Telegram reported that Redford returned to Santa Fe to reshoot a number of scenes.
       As noted in the 16 Mar 1988 Var review and 17 Mar 1988 LAHExam, the film was screened on 14 Mar 1988 at Universal City, CA, as a benefit for the Centros de Ninos organization. The 25 Mar 1988 HR noted that a cast and crew screening was held on 19 Mar 1988 at the Santa Fe Plaza in New Mexico.
       After a limited release in Los Angeles, New York City, and Toronto, Canada, on 18 Mar 1988, the 22 Mar 1988 LAT stated that the picture grossed $48,000 at the box-office. An 18 Mar 1988 HR brief reported that the picture would open a week later on 25 Mar 1988 in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM. An article in the 13 Dec 1988 LAT reported that the picture earned approximately $12.7 million.
       The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Music (Original Score).
       End credits state: “Special thanks to the: National Council of La Raza, as well as David Ochoa and Ralph Segura.” End credits also state: “Thanks to the following establishments and communities whose cooperation is greatly appreciated: Owing – Dewey Fine Art and Dewey Galleries, Santa Fe; Quail Run Resort Retirement Community, Santa Fe; New Mexico Film Commission, Economic Development and Tourism Department; U.S. Forest Service.” End credits acknowledge: “Special thanks to the people of Truchas, New Mexico and Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Española, whose cooperation helped make this film possible.”