Although he played a cowardly officer in this film, in real life Eddie Albert, who served in WW II, was a decorated war hero. At the Battle of Tarawa (1943), while braving heavy enemy fire, he rescued over 70 wounded Marines, loading them onto his landing craft and taking them back to other ships to receive medical care. For these actions he was award the Bronze Star with "V" device for valor.
Congressman Melvin Price openly criticized the military for its non-involvement in the film, calling it a "shameful attempt at censorship". United Artists was only too happy to exploit this with teaser posters asking, "Is this the most controversial picture of the year?" On the back of this, the film grossed nearly $2 million (United Artists had projected a gross of around $20,000).
Eddie Albert was approaching his 50th birthday at the time of filming, making him much older than the character he played. However, director Robert Aldrich felt it didn't matter since Albert looked young for his age. During his lifetime, Albert's year of birth was often given as 1908, although he was in fact born in 1906.
Cast member Richard Jaeckel said of this film in Edwin T. Arnold's biography, "The Films and Career of Robert Aldrich": "There were scenes of incredible tension--Palance [Jack Palance] coming down the stairs to get Albert [Eddie Albert]--we were all impressed, even in rehearsals. It was a heavy project."
Made on the RKO lot in only 35 days for $750,000.