- The shoot marked the last time that anyone was allowed to climb the "Totem Pole" in Monument Valley. In return for permission to film there, climbers with the production had to remove all of the pitons, which had accumulated from years of climbing, on their way down.
- In the car-chase scene, where Hemlock is being pursued along a cliff road by Miles Mellough and his bodyguard Dewayne, there was so much dust that Dan Howard, who played Dewayne, could not see where he was driving. To compensate, he drove looking up through the sunroof and followed the ridge line above. While effective, this driving method so unnerved actor Jack Cassidy that he demanded his stunt man take his place in the car.
- Clint Eastwood went on a three-day climbing course in Yosemite National Park, then practiced at home for several months.
- The revolver which falls out of Hemlock's pack when he kicks it over at the end is a Smith & Wesson Model 40 Centennial .38 Special.
- Originally intended as a vehicle for Paul Newman.
- Two custom 1975 Ford Broncos were specially built for this film, the one used in filming and a support vehicle, similar to the film truck but with a powerful winch and a much better sound system. The support truck is privately owned, while the film truck's fate is a mystery.
- Clint Eastwood did all of his own stunts, including the scene where he cuts his safety line over a drop of at least one thousand feet. The only stunt he did not perform was a 2500-foot drop, for which a dummy was used.
- One climber, David Knowles was killed by a boulder on the second day of shooting. Clint Eastwood had been in the same position just minutes earlier.
- Many of the names of characters were originally inside jokes; for example, in the novel the full name of the character 'Dragon' is 'Urassis Dragon' ("Your Ass is dragging"). Also, Hemlock (the name of the assassin) is a poison.
- Filming began August 12, 1974.
- In Finland this film is called "Tehtävä Alpeilla" meaning "A Mission in the Alps" in English.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: In the scene where Hemlock killed Dewayne, Miles Mellough's bodyguard, the blood shown was actually chocolate syrup.
- SPOILER: The shotgun used by Hemlock to kill Dewayne is an Ithaca Model 37.
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