According to director Sir John Boorman's audio commentary, Geoffrey Rush smokes, whereas Pierce Brosnan doesn't, while Brosnan's character Osnard smokes, and Rush's character Harry doesn't. So in the breaks between scenes, often Brosnan would put his cigarette out at the same time Rush would light up.
Pierce Brosnan said of doing this picture: "The lure for me was John Boorman, John Boorman, John Boorman." Although the part is a British spy, Osnard is a million miles away from Bond. "Osnard is loose and baggy, compared to Bond," explained Brosnan. "He's on the point of retiring from the field, he's disillusioned, he wants to make one last hit, and then he's out of the game. He's a womanizer, he's cynical, and he's manipulative."
At the age of 42, Jamie Lee Curtis had no hesitation in baring her breasts for this movie. She told director Sir John Boorman , "These are my girls--they have names, you know--you can shoot them at any angle you want because they're great."
Geoffrey Rush could not drive a car, so for all the scenes where Harry is seen driving, the car is either being pushed, towed, it's a double of Rush, or they're using background plates.