Gary Cooper originally did not want to play a father of grown children. This was despite the fact that he was 55 in real life. Ironically, many critics in 1956 felt he looked too old to play Jess Birdwell.
Gary Cooper initially turned the film down because he didn't believe the American public would accept him as a devout Quaker father.
Gary Cooper hated the way he appeared in the film so much that he never watched it after seeing the rushes.
Gary Cooper was strongly against the casting of Dorothy McGuire, as he felt she was a poor actress, and not attractive enough to play his wife.
Gary Cooper was unhappy with his character, complaining to the director that audiences would expect him to get involved with the war.