The Yards

The film was based on a real-life corruption scandal in the mid 1980s that involved the father of co-writer and director James Gray.

The pearl handled pistol that Frank Olchin removes from his sock drawer was sitting on his desk in the study, the room he just left.

The Unrated cut is 113 minutes and two scenes from the original theatrical R-rated cut have been removed. This version is about two minutes shorter. The final scene in court when Leo testifies and states that he has reformed and is reentering society as a productive citizen, has been dropped. A brief scene early in the film in which Willie (Phoenix) describes the importance of favors and gifts and "making it happen" is also cut (this scene however does appears on the included trailer on the DVD). The end credits now begin with 'empty' views of the film's settings before moving into the credits list. Also included on the DVD are several deleted scenes.

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Pay It Forward/The Legend of Drunken Master/The Yards/Bedazzled/Two Family House (2000)