Calgary was chosen as the main filming location because of its dry weather. Once production started, they were met with record rains.
Brad Pitt and Julia Ormond lived in the same house while shooting in Calgary. Pitt recalled, "It added to the sexual tension...I'll leave it at that."
A soldier is given a football just before the British advance. This is based on historical fact. It was found that if the soldiers could keep part of their focus on moving the ball forward, it would lessen the tension.
This movie and book contain occasional Cornish language terms. The Ludlows are immigrants from Cornwall, in southwestern England.