- The coffee shop in the beginning of the movie (which was, incidentally, the first scene shot) is the same shop that was used in Se7en (1995) in the scene where Morgan Freeman meets Gwyneth Paltrow to talk. In the window in both movies, the writing reads "Quality Cafe". The Quality Cafe is also used in Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), Ghost World (2001) and Catch Me If You Can (2002).
- The picture of his early years as a cop that Harris (Denzel Washington) shows to Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) in one of the deleted scenes is a still frame from Ricochet (1991)
- Alonzo's car is a 1979 Chevy Monte Carlo, with some modifications: it has Dayton wire wheels with bullet caps; a Grant steering wheel; Flowmaster exhaust; and hydraulics. Added to this, the car is outfitted with a sunroof, which that era's Monte Carlos never had.
- Gary Sinise and Tom Sizemore were offered the role of Alonzo but passed.
- 'Bruce Willis (I)' was offered the role of Alonzo.
- Before Antoine Fuqua was involved in the project, Davis Guggenheim was set to direct with Samuel L. Jackson as Detective-Sergeant Alonzo Harris and Matt Damon as rookie Officer Jack Hoyt.
- Tobey Maguire was seriously considered for the part of Officer Jack Hoyt. He even followed Undercover Narcotics officers in Los Angeles for two months and gained pounds for the role. He was dropped when Ethan Hawke, Fuqua's first choice, was finally available for the shooting schedule.
- David Ayer wrote the first draft in 1995, way before the Rampart Scandal made headlines in 1998. In the first draft, Alonzo was a Latino officer in charge of drug enforcement in the gang infested area of Pico-Union within the Rampart Division. He was a loner and didn't have any partner because of his reputation as a corrupt and racist cop. But the basics elements of the character were there: he wears expensive jewelry and drives a 1979 Monte Carlo model.
- The original ending of the script was Hoyt crashing the pad of Alonzo's girlfriend and find his training officer in the middle of an orgy with two young women. Hoyt shows him the money that Smiley was supposed to deliver to the Russians and tells him that there is a crew of hit men looking all over for him. Alonzo then commits suicide in front of Hoyt.
- To give to his character a much more authentic aspect, Denzel Washington decided to have the same look as disgraced LAPD Officer Rafael Perez.
- Famous crime novelist and LAPD specialist James Ellroy described the movie as "a complete waste of time".
- The film had several police technical advisors. Among them is Detective-Sergeant Brian Davis, an LAPD veteran who is one of the most respected and decorated officer of the infamous elite Special Investigation Section.
- Cle Shaheed Sloan, the gang technical advisor of Training Day, managed to get on screen real-life gang members from Rollin' 60 Crips, PJ Watts Crips and B.P.Stones Bloods.
- Alonzo Harris's (Denzel Washington) house in Training Day is the same house used as Janiece's (Tamala Jones) house in Blue Streak (1999) with Martin Lawrence.
- The word "fuck" is used 211 times.
- David Ayer was the only writer to work on the script, such a rarity it merited a congratulatory call from Chairman of Warner Brothers Pictures.
- Denzel Washington has frequently said that Detective Alonzo Harris is his favorite character that he's played.
- An alternate ending on DVD shows Jake Hoyt being approached and questioned by the "Three Wise Men" as he returns home (their silhouettes of them leaving the car parked on the street can be briefly seen in the theatrical version).
- Although not shown in the film, the producers of the movie asked if the Angelus Temple cross, a famous Echo Park landmark could be used in the film. When the church declined, they brought in a "fake" cross and using a crane hoisted it up a few feet in front of the real Angelus Temple.
- Alonzo's weapons of choice in the film are the venerable Smith & Wesson 4506, of which he carries two in a dual shoulder holster. The 4506 is a .45 ACP semi automatic [previously] used by many police departments around the country.
- T. Rodgers, the founder of the Black P. Stones Bloods in Baldwin Village a.k.a. The Jungles in Los Angeles, was on set for all of the filming in his neighborhood and allowed the producers to use his neighborhood in exchange for casting gang members.
- During the scene when Jake plays cards with the Latino gangsters, director Antoine Fuqua gave certain instructions to the actors playing the gangsters, without telling Ethan Hawke. This was done to further confuse him and add to the tension of the scene.
- This movie is unique in Academy Awards history, in that it's the only time an African-American, Denzel Washington, won the Best Actor Oscar as directed by a fellow African-American, Antoine Fuqua.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: Despite the fact this movie contains strong brutal violence, only 2 people die on screen.
- SPOILER: Just after Smiley tells Sniper to deal the cards again, the sound of Alonzo's car can be heard leaving.
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