This movie used soldiers from the U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet Union as extras and bit parts. After initially giving his permission, the Soviet Commander rescinded it. Director John Schlesinger was in contact with a subordinate, and they secretly assembled some troops in a hidden location, where Schlesinger sent a bus to pick them up.
This movie was originally to have featured Kyle MacLachlan, Willem Dafoe and, Lena Olin, but director John Schlesinger re-cast their roles.
This movie was supposed to be directed by Jon Amiel.
Paramount Pictures put the project into turnaround three weeks before filming was due to begin, forcing producer Norma Heyman to seek refinancing immediately.
The background story is loosely based on the real British American Intelligence operation "Gold" in the 1950s where a tunnel was dug under East Berlin and the Soviet telephone lines were intercepted.