Trivia: During the big chase scene Marilyn Burns was running so slowly that Gunnar Hansen stopped to cut tree branches so he wouldn't outrun her.
Trivia: Stars Paul Newman and Steve McQueen apparently argued intensely over who should get top billing. In the end the producers settled for a compromise: reading the film poster (which is reproduced as the DVD cover) top to bottom, Paul Newman is first, i.e. higher, or "top" billing. But reading left to right, Steve McQueen is first. The same applies to their photographs either side of the main artwork, McQueen on the left but Newman (marginally) higher up. Ironically, this billing format was an issue when McQueen was considered for a role in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
Trivia: Actress Maud Adams, who played "Andrea Anders", "Scaramanga's mistress" in the film, is the only actress to have played two lead roles in Bond films. A favourite of Cubby Broccoli, in 1983, she returned to play the title character in "Octopussy".
Trivia: The MacGyver episode "Countdown" was a remake of this film. Initially the bomb defusing scene is replicated in part in the Kurt Russell film "Executive Decision"
Trivia: Sidney Lumet's first choice for Hercule Poirot was Alec Guiness, with Paul Scofield as his second choice. Because they both were busy with other projects, Albert Finney was chosen, even though Lumet felt he was too young for the role.
Trivia: New York Transit Authority has code words for trains going through subways, based on the departure station and time of departure. Pelham One Two Three means the train left Pelham Bay Park Station at 1:23 pm. Ever since the 1974 film was released, New York Transit authority has made a conscious decision to try very hard not to let subway trains leave Pelham Bay Park Station at 1:23 in the morning or afternoon.
Trivia: Walter Matthau plays the drunk who sits at the bar wearing a loud shirt and pimp hat. However, for the end credits his name is listed as "Walter Matuschanskayasky"
Trivia: The man who plays that young deputy who bullies Warren Beatty in a bar (they also get into a rough car-chase later in the film) is Earl Hindman, whose most famous role came with the popular (here in Finland also) 1990's series "Home Improvement". He was that "faceless" neighbour of Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor's.
Trivia: The dream sequence in which Harry tries to talk to Ann was originally meant to take place in real life (within the film, that is). The production didn't have time to finish the scene and the fog effects looked too phony. But rather than scrap the scene entirely, editor Walter Murch came up with the idea to include the footage as a dream.
Trivia: The voice of Mr. U.N. Owen on the tape is that of Orson Welles.
Trivia: Sissy Spacek was the film's set dresser.
Trivia: Despite playing mother and son, Cosette Lee was only fourteen years older than Roberts Blossom.