When asked if they were retreating, Frank Lovejoy's character, Lt. Col Steve Corbett, says, "Retreat, hell! We're not retreating, we're just advancing in a different direction." This was actually said by Maj. Gen. O.P. Smith, who was Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Paul Picerni was originally cast as Capt. O'Grady and shot some scenes, but Warner Bros. decided it wanted him in the Errol Flynn actioner Mara Maru (1952) instead and replaced him on this picture with Lamont Johnson.
Peter Ortiz is credited as playing Major Knox. Peter Ortiz was one of the most highly decorated Marine Corps officers of World War II. He was born in NYC in 1913 but raised primarily in France. He could speak ten languages, seven fluently including English, Spanish, French,, Italian, Portuguese, German and Arabic. He served two tours with the French Foreign Legion in the 1930's and served as a Paratrooper in French Algeria. When France was invaded he fought in ground fighting and was wounded and captured after destroying a fuel depot. He escaped from the Germans and made his way to England and then the United States. Once in the USA, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was sent to Parris Island for recruit training and almost immediately put on the fast track for OCS and Para Marine school. With his fluency in languages, he was quickly transferred to Europe with a small handful of other Marines. He was absorbed into the OSS and the British version Special Operations Executive (SOE.) He was parachuted into France the first time in January 1944 leading a team named "Union." He assisted several allied airmen out of occupied France into neutral Spain. He and his team had their uniforms with them. Ortiz would frequent cafe's where Germans gathered and listen in on their conversations. On one occasion, a German officer made disparaging remarks about President Roosevelt and the Marine Corps. Ortiz quietly left and returned a few minutes later. He had changed into his uniform. Once inside, he whipped off his raincoat and held the Germans at gunpoint. He forced them to drink a toast to the President and to the Marine Corps. Then he quietly backed out and disappeared into the night. He was awarded the Navy Cross for this mission. He returned to France for a second mission in August "Union II." This mission had difficulties after only two weeks in France. A German battalion had the town surrounded where Ortiz and his six Marines were hiding. They were all in their uniforms. A fierce fire fight ensured. The Germans threatened to destroy the village. Under a flag of truce, Ortiz approached the Germans and spoke with the commander. He agreed to surrender his men if the village was left alone. Since the villagers had not participated in the action, the conditions were met. Ortiz and his men surrendered. The Germans at first refused to believe that only seven men had put up such a heroic fight but eventually they realized it was true. In April 1945, Peter Ortiz and two others from his team escaped from their POW camp. They were on the loose for ten days before they were forced by hunger to return to the camp. Days later, they were liberated by elements of General Patton's army. For his war time service, Major Peter J. Ortiz USMC was awarded the Navy Cross twice, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart twice, POW Medal, Legion of Honor (France), Order of the British Empire (UK) and numerous other medals and awards. He went back to California after the war. He immediately made a name for himself in Hollywood as a technical advisor and actor. He worked for John Ford numerous times. He stared opposite John Wayne, Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Dan Dailey, Maureen O'Hara and many others. He requested that the Marine Corps send him to French Indo China (Vietnam) in the 1950's. He believed that the Marine Corps would be involved in combat there in a few years. They denied his request. He was proved to be correct. He died of cancer in 1988 at the age of 78. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
John Wayne intended to appear in this film prior to filming The Quiet Man (1952), but was unable to work it into his schedule.
Just before the movie premiered in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952, local radio stations decided the film's title was tasteless and offensive. So instead, advertisements informed listeners that a new war film, "Retreat, Heck!" would be opening soon.