The film was part of a cycle of big-budget World War II adventures that included "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957), "The Longest Day" (1962) and "The Great Escape" (1963). MacLean's novel had been a best seller and was read by Mike Frankovich head of Columbia Pictures, who became excited as to its cinematic possibilities. He showed it to Carl Foreman, who had written "Bridge on the River Kwai" and had a producing deal with Columbia, who was not as enthusiastic at first, in part because he knew how difficult making a movie version would be. Foreman eventually changed his mind and agreed to make the movie.