Gérard Depardieu and Vincent Perez play rivals for the affections of Roxanne. In real life, they would both father a child with Karine Silla. The daughter fathered by Depardieu is even named Roxane Depardieu.
Roxane really existed, she really was Cyrano de Bergerac's cousin, and she really did marry a baron whose surname was De Neuvillette. However, there is no evidence whatsoever that he and Cyrano were both in love with Roxane.
The film required 2000 actors and extras, and 2000 costumes, half of which were specially designed for the film. Over 1000 weapons were required as well as 40 studio sets and outdoor locations.
The English subtitles use Anthony Burgess' translation of the play text, which preserves the rhyming alexandrines of Edmond Rostand's French text, but frequently changes its meaning, sometimes even omitting character name.
Gérard Depardieu was so fond of his character, Cyrano, that he kept the look (long hair and moustache) for a long time after filming completed.