The role of the gorilla was played by one of Hollywood's leading "gorilla performers," Charles Gemora. This film would be his last performance. For the remaining few years of his life, he worked in the makeup department on future films.
At one point Pat Boone addresses a fellow cadet as a "rat". This refers to the Virginia Military Institute tradition of calling new cadets "rats" who participate in the "rat line" of freshman indoctrination. This was a centerpiece of the 1938 service comedy, "Brother Rat".