* ActorInspiredElement: The real Ron Kovic appears as a World War II veteran who flinches at the sound of firecrackers. Cruise adopted this in his portrayal of Kovic.
* BillingDisplacement: Despite second billing, Creator/WillemDafoe doesn't appear until 1 hour and 36 minutes into the movie.
* CaliforniaDoubling:
** Like ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' and ''Film/{{Platoon}}'', scenes in Vietnam were actually shot in the Philippines due to the political climate.
** The scenes taking place in Ron Kovic's hometown of Massapequa, New York were shot in Dallas, Texas.
* DeletedRole: Creator/MacaulayCulkin had a small role as a kid, but was cut out of the film.
* DistancedFromCurrentEvents: The movie was set to make its broadcast debut on Creator/{{CBS}} in 1991, however, due to the UsefulNotes/GulfWar, the premiere was delayed until the following year.
* ExecutiveVeto: Stone proposed having Tom Cruise injected with a drug to temporarily paralyse him for two days, to more realistically portray the difficulties of someone in a wheelchair. The insurance company immediately refused due to possibility of permanent damage.
* InMemoriam: The film's end credits include a dedication to political activist Abbie Hoffman who died of a drug overdose nine months before the movie was released.
* TheMerch: Deconstructed, as the film ended up inspiring unofficial merchandise in the form of "Ron Kovic" Halloween costumes and an unofficial (in terms of not getting the license for the actor's appearance) adult collectible 1/6th scale action figure of Creator/TomBerenger from the film, as Berenger has a single scene in the film where he gives a recruitment speech for the Marines in dress blues at the start of the film.
* RealLifeRelative:
** Three Baldwin brothers are in the film, Creator/WilliamBaldwin, Creator/DanielBaldwin and Creator/StephenBaldwin. They do not share any screen time.
** Creator/OliverStone's son Sean plays Ron Kovic's brother Jimmy as a child.
** Creator/TomCruise's actual cousin William Mapother [[note]]Tom Cruise's full name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV[[/note]] plays a soldier in Ron Kovac's platoon.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/CharlieSheen was the first choice to play Kovic before being replaced by Creator/TomCruise. Sheen would later play [[HilariousInHindsight a comical version]] of Cruise in the 1991 ''Film/TopGun'' spoof, ''Film/HotShots'' and its sequel, ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux''.
** Creator/NicolasCage and Creator/SeanPenn were considered for the role of Ron Kovic.
** Creator/AlPacino turned down the role of Kovic's father. Some years earlier another version was proposed with Pacino as Kovic with Creator/WilliamFriedkin directing.
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