Trivia for
Salvador (1986) More at IMDbPro »

• The movie had an advisor who was killed in El Salvador during the production.
  
  
• When James Woods discovered that there was a blank cartridge in the rifle which could have damaged his head, he refused to continue with the scene, resulting in another of the many fierce arguments between cast and crew.
  
  
• According to Oliver Stone, he cast Joshua Gallegos as the immigration officer because of his resemblance to Erik Estrada on "CHiPs" (1977)
  
  
• John Savage plays a fictional version of a real photographer John Hoglund or Olivier Rebbot in the movie.
  
  
• Oliver Stone's first choice for the role of Richard Boyle was Marlon Brando, who had become notoriously reclusive by the time this project got underway.
  
  
• Oliver Stone had a very hard time getting funding for this film. He was forced to put a second mortgage on his house to get finance until British producer John Daly pledged his support to the project. The film was made on a budget of just under five million dollars.
  
  
• While the film received much critical praise, it did not have wide distribution in the United States. It was re-released after the success of Platoon (1986).
  
  
• Hemdale is the name of the production company that financed Salvador (1986). It also financed Platoon (1986) that same year.
  
  
• Near the end of the film, there is a massive cavalry charge by the rebels. According to James Belushi (who plays Doctor Rock in this film) director Oliver Stone forfeited his $25,000 paycheck to pay for the scene with the horses.
  
  
• Richard Boyle is asked how Pol Pot and Castro are any better than the leaders in El Salvador. Oliver Stone would eventually film two documentaries interviewing Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
  
  

• SPOILER: Kathy's murder is based on a true event that happened in El Salvador, when four American nuns were raped and murdered.
  
  

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