The film was heavily influenced by the historic late-1973 to 1974 oil crisis, when the members of OPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries) declared an oil embargo and prices shot up 400%.The film was the most expensive film of its time, costing about two million dollars (a third of which was used for the Babylonian segments), but it was commercially unsuccessful in the US, partially due to the financial burden of having full orchestration accompany he film." It was thought hat Moreau would deliver the launch codes to Cobalt, who was a Level-1 nuclear strategist for Russian intelligence.He revealed his stolen coins (he performed a handstand and the coins fell to the floor) and the magic rope:Rouse yourself, bird of evil.