The shot of locusts ascending to the sky was shot in reverse with the helicopter crew throwing peanut shells down, and actors walking backwards.
Terrence Malick was so exhausted after the experience of making and completing the film that he retreated to Paris with his girlfriend. It would be 20 years before he made another film.
In an interview conducted for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film in 2007, Richard Gere speaks of a shot in the film during the wheat fire where a "monstrous" antiquated tractor is driven through the flames. According to Gere, director Terrence Malick was the driver.
Cinematographer Néstor Almendros was going blind during production. Before each shot, he would have his assistant take a picture with a Polaroid camera and then would view it under a high-powered magnifying glass.
After filming for a short time, Terrence Malick threw out the script altogether, and allowed the actors to "find the story" as the production went on.