The broken arrow, which signals an end to fighting, is in fact a Blackfoot Indian symbol, not an Apache symbol. The Blackfoot are native to Montana and Alberta, Canada.
The film was considered groundbreaking at the time because it was one of the first sound films green-lit under the Motion Picture Production Code to portray Native Americans in a humane light. After the 1950s, the film was frequently criticized because white actors portrayed Native Americans, although the role of Geronimo was played by Native Canadian Mohawk actor Jay Silverheels.
At 41, James Stewart was 26 years older than Debra Paget, who was still only 15 when filming began in early June 1949.
Cochise would have been about 65 in 1870, although he is played by Jeff Chandler who was only 30 when this movie was filmed.
The movie's world premiere was held in the Nusho Theater in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.