Richard Arlen, whose character is a fighter pilot, had actually been a pilot in World War I (though he never saw combat).
A scene of an aerial raid on a German troop train was filmed but not used. It later turned up as part of The Legion of the Condemned.
According to biographer David Stenn, Clara Bow did not like her military uniform, as it did not show off her figure. She kept fighting with the costumers to let her wear a tight belt and show off her curves.
Chocolate syrup was used as blood in the movie.
Contains the first screen kiss between two men.
Costume Designer Edith Head's first film.
Director William A. Wellman appears in the film, in what today could be called a "cameo" (although he does "speak"). During the final battle scene Wellman, portraying a doughboy, is shot and exclaims "Atta boy. Them buzzards are some good after all."
Director William A. Wellman based much of his work in the film on his experiences as a combat pilot during World War I. While stationed in France, Wellman joined the French Foreign Legion's Lafayette Flying Corps, N.87, les Chats Noir (Black Cat Group). The plane he flew was Nieuport 24 fighter, which he named "Celia" after his mother. He was credited with three recorded "kills" of enemy aircraft, plus five probable kills. Wellman was shot down in combat and survived the crash, but walked with a limp for the rest of his life. He received the Croix du Guerre for his service. After the war, Wellman returned home and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps for two years, where he taught combat tactics to new pilots at Rockwell Field in San Diego.
Director William A. Wellman's wife Margery Chapin and daughter Gloria Wellman play the peasant mother and daughter whose house gets crashed into toward the end of the film.
In 1925 and 1926, Byron Morgan sent ideas for a story about air service in World War I to Famous Players Lasky Corporation. The Company agreed when he brought this to their attention, and settled with him for $3750 which included his waiving claims to all rights to his material.
In contrast to co-star Richard Arlen, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers did not know how to fly a plane when production began, but he learned how to do so by the end of it. In the close-up scenes where Jack and David (and other characters) are flying, the actors are actually working the planes themselves. To shoot these scenes, the actors had to get the plane up in the air, keep it up, turn on the (motorized) camera and land the plane-and act at the same time.
One of only three films to win the Oscar for best picture without also being nominated for best director. The other two are Grand Hotel and Driving Miss Daisy.
The entire score was written, composed, and recorded using a Wurlitzer Pipe Organ.
The first movie to be given the Oscar for Best Picture.
The only movie to ever win an Academy Award for Best Production. In the Oscars' first year of existence, two "Best Picture"-type awards were given: This film was awarded Best Production and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans was awarded Best Artistic Quality of Production. Both awards were discontinued the following year and replaced by the modern Best Picture Oscar; Best Production is usually thought of as that award's equivalent.
The only movie to win an Academy Award for Engineering Effects.
The only silent movie to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Used soldiers from the army's 2nd Infantry Division stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, as extras. The same division was used for Rough Riders.
When a preview was shown in San Antonio, Texas in the Spring of 1927, the movie had 14 reels. It was cut down to 13 for release to theaters.
Winner of the first Academy Award for Best Picture.