William Holden and Richard Widmark became good friends during the production of the film. When Widmark became ill with the flu and was confined to his room, Holden bought him a snare drum because he knew Widmark played the drums. Widmark later remarked, "That four months of being constantly together on a film location was the equivalent of ten or fifteen years of friendship."
70mm version released in Spain.
Both William Holden and director Edward Dmytryk were concerned about the script of the film before production even began. At one point during filming, Holden, who was hung-over and dealing with an unruly horse, became angry and tried shoving the script up the horse's rear, yelling, "That's where it belongs!"
Production was shut down for six months when William Holden contracted salmonella, and the film had to be finished in Hollywood.
This was based upon the actual "Beefsteak Raid" of September 14-16, 1864.
While dining in Baton Rouge, William Holden and Richard Widmark ran into Steve McQueen, who was filming Nevada Smith in the same area. McQueen and Holden wound up drinking together the rest of the evening.