[To Betty, before she leaves for the USO.] Ward Douglas: I don't know what they've told you down at the USO, but you're going to be meeting a lot of strange men. Men in uniform. Boys a long way from home, lonely, desperate. They really have one thing on their minds. Show 'em a good time.
[Looking at the Japanese sub through binoculars] Angelo Scioli: Hey, there's a Kraut on board too. We got the whole damn Axis here.
Captain Wild Bill Kelso: Kid, you gotta get that sub. Wally Stephens: What sub? Captain Wild Bill Kelso: The Jap sub. Wally Stephens: Where? Captain Wild Bill Kelso: The ocean, lame-o.
Private Foley: Now Sarge, what is the loading and firing procedure for the 75-millimeter cannon? Sergeant Frank Tree: [delirious] There are five basic components... Private Foley: This is it, pay attention. Sergeant Frank Tree: ...to the new General Electric refrigerator: one, the freon compressor, two, the freon tube...
Colonel "Madman" Maddox: Hold your fire, pass it on.
Trivia:
Spielberg exposed one million feet of film over 247 shooting days.
Both John Wayne and Charlton Heston were offered the role of General Stilwell. Wayne phoned director Steven Spielberg, who had given him the script, and not only turned it down due to ill health but tried to get Spielberg to drop the project. Wayne felt it was unpatriotic and a slap in the face to WWII vets. Heston is thought to have turned it down for the same reasons.
Spielberg has revealed that he almost made this film a musical.
The dialog between Claude and Herbie was written along the same lines as Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton. In fact, Jackie Gleason and Art Carney were offered the roles but Gleason refused, saying he would not and could not work with Carney any longer.
End credits feature scenes showing cast members screaming.
DVD Easter Eggs: (Hidden So You Don't See Anything You Don't Want To See)
Edition: Universal
Region: 1
Description: Isolated music score
From the disc’s main menu go to the 'Language Selection' and there select 'Spoken Language'. As one of the entries you will then see 'Isolated music score'. Select it and you will be able to enjoy John Williams’ fabulous score in its entirety.