I love James Cagney, but he was miscast. Dan Dailey was also miscast.
If John Wayne had played Flagg and Lee Marvin Sgt. Quirt, it would have been a classic. Wayne and Marvin did a number of John Ford movies; I wonder why Ford didn't use these guys?
If Marvin had not been available, Forrest Tucker would have also made a great Quirt.
Cagney and Dailey were originally pitched the film as a musical. After agreeing, Cagney, who was not a Fox contract player, found out it was to be filmed straight.
Regardless, he would have been miscast anyway, despite his hoofing abilities. At this point in his life, the only doughboy that Cagney should have played was named Pillsbury.
It ain't easy being green, or anything else, other than to be me
40 plus yr old Captains weren't unusual in the Marine Corps in those days. Their relatively old sergeants and other enlisted types as well. I recommend you read "Fix Bayonets! " by Captain John W. Thomason, USMC. Originally written in 1926, it is available.
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