Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, and Jeff Osterhage wanted to do another western together after they did The Sacketts (1979). They contacted that film's writer, Louis L'Amour and asked him to write a story idea for them. This film was the result.

Dominique Dunne's final film.

In the book, the descriptions for Mac and Dal are flip-flopped.

Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. were part of John Ford's stock company and became good friends. They appeared in several movies together including "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon? and "Rio Grande". But they did not share any scenes in this film.

Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross play boyfriend and girlfriend in this movie. They became husband and wife in real life, marrying on May 1, 1984.

Continuity

While Mac and Dal Traven are running along the top of the train, their shadows are cast on the ground, next to the train (sun to the side). The next shot shows their shadows directly underneath them, on the train's top (sun overhead).



Factual errors

Major Ashbury wears the collar rank of a Confederate major, but the sleeve trim of a lieutenant.



Revealing mistakes

In the scene where Dal was going to be hung by the crowd, in the background in the upper left, the 2 square posts are along an asphalt road which can barely be seen.



Miscellaneous

When Dal is leaving town with the sharps rifles, an air conditioner can be seen on the roof of one of the buildings. As Dal leaves (0:24:16), the sun highlighting a boxy structure on the roof of the bank, which looked like metal. There was a better look at it on his way in to town (0:21:43), a pale blue, see-through slatted structure. Not an air conditioner.

When Dal is rescued by the rebels just before being shot by a Union firing squad, he is seen in conversation removing the rope that has been tied around his wrists. The various camera angles show him removing the rope, without the rope, with the rope and still removing the rope. At 0:05:48, two loops of rope are on his right wrist. It only seemed like he removed it twice.

There's a blue cardboard drink carton above Mac's head on his parent's porch. Mistaken observation. (0:19:28) That was Mac's gun belt hung up. It may have looked blue with the shadow on it, but it was black. He took it when they left the porch at 0:20:49.

When Mac Traven pushes the horse over (beside the train), a rope can be seen tied to the horse's front feet to prevent it from sidestepping. Mistaken observation. There's no rope. Movie makers were not allowed to trip horses any longer. The horse has been trained to fall on its side. Pulling its head around to the opposite side (01:22:28) sets up the stunt.

The Sheriff says he was in Converse when the girls were kidnapped. The first homestead in Converse, named after the homesteader, didn't exist until 1877, a full decade after the events of this film. However, since this movie was not based on fact, it doesn't matter.



Crew or equipment visible

Just before the end when everyone is getting on the wagons, Jeff Osterhage's character rides up to the front wagon. A crew member, complete with wristwatch, sunglasses and hat can be seen grabbing the horse's bridle.