James Garner says that this is his favorite of his movies.
Julie Andrews' only movie in black and white.
According to screenwriter Joe Eszterhas's 2004 autobiography "American Animal", producer Martin Ransohoff removed director William Wyler from the picture as Wyler wanted to change Paddy Chayefsky's script. It was a rare instance in which a producer supported a screenwriter over a director, particularly one of Wyler's caliber. As Chayefsky was known to have guarantees written into his contracts protecting his scripts, Ransohoff may have had no choice but to replace Wyler with Arthur Hiller.
Although the DVD cover states that film historian Drew Casper does the audio commentary, it's actually Arthur Hiller. He speaks very fondly of the making of the movie.
The D-Day landing scenes were filmed on Mandalay Beach in Oxnard, California.In the behind-the-scenes documentary "Action on the Beach" (1964), the Mandalay power generating station, then operated by Southern California Edison can be seen in several shots. The plant, still operating in 2010, opened in 1959.
The role of Lt. Cmdr. Charles E. Madison was originally offered to William Holden, while James Garner was considered for the part of "Bus" Cummings.