When John Wayne heard that Ben Barzman and Edward Dmytryk were openly belittling the religion of the film's technical advisor, Colonel George S. Clarke (who had commanded the 57th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts during the Battle of Bataan and was roughly Wayne's real life counterpart), and mocking him with renditions of the Internationale, he confronted Dmytryk, asking him if he was a communist. Dmytryk replied that he was not, but if "the masses of the American people wanted communism, it would be good for our country". Though Dmyrtyk denied he was a communist, Wayne felt that he was by his use of the word "masses". By contrast, Barzman's wife Norma recalled Wayne being friendly with her husband, with Wayne hugging him and calling him a "goddammned communist", to which Barzman jokingly replied that Wayne was a "fascist". Wayne also developed a friendly relationship with Dmytryk, respecting his talents as a director. The actor was genuinely perplexed as to why Dmytryk, who was well-paid and enjoying the fruits of American democracy, would have such sympathy for communism, asking him, "Jeez Eddie, what's your beef with America?"
The United States had annexed the Philippines in 1898 along with Puerto Rico and Guam.
John Wayne later said he regretted starring in this film as the director was a Communist.
Director Edward Dmytryk and screenwriter Ben Barzman were thought to be responsible for making life as difficult as possible for John Wayne. Their treatment of the US Colonel who was acting as the technical advisor convinced Wayne that he was in the middle of a Communist plot.
As John Wayne refused to use a stunt-double in the movie, director Edward Dmytryk and screenwriter Ben Barzman wrote scenes for Wayne with dangerous stunts so that he would want to use a stuntman. Not even this deterred Wayne who still did the stunts.