This is the final film that composer Jerry Goldsmith would compose for the director and his personal friend, Franklin J. Schaffner, who would direct one more film, Welcome Home (1989) before his death on July 2, 1989 at the age of 69.
This film received an extremely brief theatrical run in 1987.
Inspired loosely on an event that took place in 1212 called "The Children's Crusade", when a French boy tried to lead a large group of children to the Holy Land. However, most either died on the way or were sold into slavery when they reached North Africa on the way to Jerusalem. Similar events are said to have occurred at the same time around Germany.
Eric Stoltz reported insisted on wearing his full costume, frequently heavy and hot armor, the entire time he was on set, even when cameras were not rolling. This resulted in him being exhausted much of the time, and may well have resulted in what is widely seen as a weak performance.
The final film of former "Blue Peter" presenter Michael Sundin before his death from AIDS.