Last movie that actress Julie Walters made where her filming would require for her to leave Great Britain. Ever since this picture, in order to spend more time with her family, Walters has only made local film productions in the U.K.
Ran for an incredible ten weeks at the Varsity Theatre in Des Moines, Iowa, after opening on Christmas Day 1991 as their holiday attraction with a revamped ad campaign, written by the owner of the theatre, who was determined to book this movie despite its unimpressive opening the previous October. The owner reluctantly sent back the print ten weeks later only because Paramount Pictures needed a copy (for reasons unspecified), since they had only made eight prints. Otherwise this movie was booked for an indefinite run at this theatre, a specialty house known for very long runs. The last two weeks were heavily advertised as such, as this movie was earning significant repeat business.
The Broadway production of "Stepping Out" by Richard Harris opened at the John Golden Theater in New York City on 11th January 1987 and ran for seventy-three performances until it closed on 15th Mar 1987.
This movie was slated to premiere in April 1991 to coincide with Liza Minnelli's record-breaking three-week engagement at New York City's Radio City Music Hall which was titled "Stepping Out at Radio City". Alas, the reins at Paramount Pictures changed hands, the premiere was pushed to October 1991, and when this movie was given a token platform release. When it did not open to huge numbers, Paramount lost interest. Reportedly, the film's director Lewis Gilbert attributed the lack of support for the movie to the then recent leadership/management change at the studio.
Financially unsuccessful in America, but a modest success in the U.K., where it nabbed a Supporting Actress BAFTA nomination for Julie Walters.