Trivia

Nicolas Cage had two teeth removed (without anesthetic) for this role.

Then-unknown Danny Glover was scheduled to make a speech as a bit player, but because he kept botching his lines his scenes had to be cut from the movie.

Birds who acted in the film had their own bird billing section in the movie's closing credits.

In the novel, the veterans served in World War II. This was changed to Vietnam for the film.

Matthew Modine auditioned for the role of Al but Sir Alan Parker cast him as Birdy instead.