Set in Asia, the movie was shot in Yugoslavia.
Omar Sharif was furious when he learned that Eli Wallach was paid $25,000 per week, more than Sharif was paid for the entire film. Wallach had taken his role after a London play he was scheduled to appear in collapsed, and he was in urgent need of a quick payday.
A 70mm blow-up version was released in West Germany.
Genghis Khan (1965) was a favorite guilty pleasure for Stanley Kubrick, and is thought to be directly responsible for Michael Hordern being chosen to narrate Barry Lyndon (1975).
The Australian premiere, in Sydney's Barclay Cinema, was released in 70MM, and advertised as having six-track stereophonic sound.