According the director's son Edoardo Margheriti, Antonio Margheriti didn't want to make a political film that was for or against the Vietnam War. He just wanted to make a Vietnam War film that was fun.
Exteriors were filmed in the Philippines with the Interiors and "New York" scenes shot in Rome. Some of the actors playing American soldiers were American voice actors living in Rome, including Gregory Snegoff in his first on-screen role as the surly drunk in the opening scene.
"L' Ultimo cacciatore" was originally made as "Cacciatore 2", a supposed "sequel" to 'Michael Cimino''s The Deer Hunter (1978) which was released in Italy as "Il Cacciatore." Posters were even printed up with this title. According to director Antonio Margheriti's son Edoardo Margheriti (who served as second unit director), the title was changed to "L' Ultimo cacciatore" due to rights issues.
Margie Newton found her role difficult as she did not speak English and the scenes required her to do so. David Warbeck helped her by teaching her the English words she needed to speak during rehearsals before they shot the actual scenes.