According to production notes in AMPAS library files, writer Brad Mirman began working on the screenplay in summer 1991. Although he gathered research by interviewing members of the Los Angeles, California, Police Department and District Attorney’s office, he decided to set the story in the “smaller and less frequently filmed city” of Portland, OR. The 18 Nov 1991 Var announced that Dino De Laurentiis Communications (DDLC) purchased Mirman’s script for $350,000, and hoped to have a rewrite completed by 1 Dec 1991, so a director could be hired before production began in spring 1992. The company was reportedly searching for a film to feature singer-actress Madonna, and decided to collaborate with German filmmaker Uli Edel after learning that the star was a long time admirer of his 1981 film, Christiane F. A 23 Mar 1992 HR brief indicated that Madonna’s character, “Rebecca Carlson,” was being rewritten to closer match her personality.
       The remainder of casting took place in Jan 1992. Joe Mantegna and Willem Dafoe reportedly researched their roles by shadowing criminal lawyers from both Los Angeles and Portland. Prior to filming, Edel held two weeks of videotaped rehearsals to stage the love scenes between Madonna and Dafoe.
       Although the 17 Jan 1992 Screen International suggested a start date of Mar 1992, production notes confirmed that principal photography began 6 Apr 1992, and concluded mid-Jun 1992, forty-nine shooting days later. Interior scenes set in the courtroom and Rebecca Carlson’s house were built on a soundstage in Culver City, CA. However, the majority of the film was shot in Portland before production relocated to Olympia, WA, for a few days in late Apr—early May 1992. A 23 Apr 1992 LAT article indicated that Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro vehemently opposed the use of the State Capitol Building because of his objection to the film’s sexual and violent content. However, the state’s Department of General Administration permitted the location to be used, since scenes taking place in and around the capitol did not contain nudity. The 6 May 1992 DV reported that executive producer Steven Deutsch temporarily shut down production when a group of 200 Evergreen State College students staged a protest outside the capitol, rallying against the recently acquitted Los Angeles police officers charged with beating Rodney King. As a supporter of their cause, Deutsch joined in with the protesters and filmed footage of the event, which he planned to sell to several major news outlets.
       Following production, an 18 Dec 1992 DV story announced that MGM filed suit against photographer Barry Nelson Brams, also known as Barry Brown, for attempting to sell stolen photographs of Madonna, which had been taken by the on-set stills photographer during her nude scenes. The outcome of the lawsuit has not been determined.
       Additional controversy arose when a Chicago Tribune article republished in the 14 Mar 1993 Long Beach Press-Telegram revealed that Shawn Lusader worked as Anne Archer’s body double during a nude scene. Although Lusader earned $700 for the job, she was not credited onscreen and became displeased when Archer allowed the press to believe she appeared nude in the film. As a result, Lusader organized the Body of Doubles Committee, which campaigned for body doubles to receive credit and employment benefits similar to those of unionized stunt performers.
       On 3 Mar 1992, HR announced that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists (MGM/UA) acquired domestic distribution rights for theatrical, home video, cable, and television release. At this time, the film was expected to open in theaters 9 Oct 1992. The 25 Jan 1993 Var stated that MGM planned the original opening date to coincide with the publicity campaign for Madonna’s book, Sex, which was to be published later that month. Because Madonna did not want the two to interfere, however, the film went into wide release in Jan 1993, “to cash in as quickly as possible before bad word of mouth” hurt its reception.
       The 31 Aug 1992 DV reported that Body of Evidence was given an NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Classification & Ratings Administration. Although filmmakers initially accepted the rating, a 17—23 Sep 1992 Drama-Logue item stated that the studio had yet to decide if the film would be re-cut before its scheduled 22 Jan 1993 release. The following month, the 30 Oct 1992 DV announced that actors and MGM executives did not wish the movie to be judged as a “sex film,” and agreed to edit the film’s sex scenes to secure an R rating. The release was rescheduled for 15 Jan 1993.
       According to the Nov 1992 issue of Los Angeles Magazine, KTLA Morning News reporter Sam Rubin announced that he had viewed a “rough cut” of the then-NC-17-rated picture, which he deemed “racy, but no big deal.” MGM claimed that Rubin had somehow obtained an illegal copy of the film, and Deutsch allegedly issued a threatening telephone call to the reporter for his remarks.
       The 10 Jan 1993 LAT reported that advertisements for Body of Evidence included a disclaimer dissociating the motion picture from the 1991 Patricia Cornwell novel of the same name. Instead of pursuing a costly lawsuit to have the title changed, Cornwell negotiated the statement with DDLC and MGM, which also stipulated that the film’s novelization would be published as Deadly Evidence.
       The 11 Jan 1993 HR indicated that the New York City premiere was held 7 Jan 1993 at the Ziegfeld Theater.
      End credits include the following acknowledgment: “The producers wish to give special thanks to the Oregon Film Commission; Giorgio Armani.”