Toshirô Mifune entertained the cast and crew throughout the entire production with his refined culinary skills, bringing over a supply of Japanese meats, watercress, seaweed, and other ingredients. He would also exchange recipes for French and Italian dishes, including spaghetti.
This movie made Charles Bronson a huge star in Japan. Around this time Bronson also did an ad for a Japanese cologne, for which he earned $100,000 for just four days work.
The Japanese ambassador was played by Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese actor known for his excellent command of the English language. It is believed that he coached the non-English speaking Toshirô Mifune for the English dialog required.
This movie stars US-born Charles Bronson, Japanese actor Toshirô Mifune, French actor Alain Delon, and Swiss actress Ursula Andress. Also, it was filmed in Spain by a British director Terence Young.
One actor from Seven Samurai (1954), (Toshirô Mifune), and one from its remake The Magnificent Seven (1960), (Charles Bronson), are in the cast.