[2] Following the Normandy landings at Omaha Beach, an American squad frees a group of French hostages but takes several casualties in an assault in Vierville-sur-Mer.

They capture a German officer who has treated the French in his jurisdiction with kindness, but the American sergeant discovers that no one on the busy beachhead wishes to be bothered with prisoners.

[5] Robertson claimed Zanuck wanted to make the film to showcase his girlfriend Irina Demick who had appeared in The Longest Day.

Robertson called the film "Up From the Bitch"[6] Irina Demick, Red Buttons and Fernand Ledoux appeared in the original "The Longest Day".

Oskar Werner was the first choice for the German officer eventually played by Marius Goring.