 Despite the film being made over 30 years after the actual battle, a  number of its principal characters were able to be employed as  military consultants during production. The list of people includes:  Brian Horrocks (qv) (Fox), James M. Gavin (qv) (ONeal),  J.O.E. Vandeleur (qv) (Caine), John Frost (III) (qv) (Hopkins),  and R.E. Urquhart (qv) (Connery).