The French castle in the film was specially built for the filming. A total of 85 craftsmen were used. It spans 240 feet and is 50 feet high, making it one of the largest film sets. The gardener planted 5,400 square yards of heather, 400 ferns, 450 shrubs and 6 weeping willows around it.
According to the plot, the castle will be blown up, but the castle is so strong that it requires 70 tons of explosives, and part of the castle needs to be rebuilt with cork and plastic.
John Wayne was the original candidate to play Major John Lissman, but he gave up because he wanted to star in "Green Beret" in 1968.
The actors Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas, Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, and Clint Walker all served during World War II.
Donald Sutherland was the last actor to be determined because the original actor believed that the role he was going to play was detrimental to his image.
Director Robert Aldridge claimed that cutting off a shot of Robert throwing a grenade into the air-raid shelter would allow him to win the Oscar for Best Director. This shot is controversial because no German women in the air-raid shelter survived.
Jack Palance refused to play the role of Archer.
Because Trini López’s agent stupidly demanded an increase in pay, the director Robert Aldridge let his role die early.
Wonderful dialogue:
Pinkley: [impersonating a General] Where are you from, son? Pinkley:
(Imitating the general) Son, where are you from ?
Soldier: Madison City, Missouri, sir!
Soldier: Madison, Missouri, sir!
Pinkley: Never heard of it. Pinkley: Never heard of it
. Wearing a
gang shot:
When Lisman accepted the task in the opening movie, the officer who spoke with him wore the Army Commendation Medal. It was 1944, and Congress only began to issue such medals in 1945.
During the retreat by Lisman and others on a tracked vehicle, the weapon changed from M3 to MP40 several times.
The German soldier who hit Frank was holding an American M3 submachine gun, but the gunshots were MP40.
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