 The writer/director P.J. Hogan (qv) wanted to use the music of  ABBA in the film. At first, permission for the music to be used was  denied. When the director promised to fly to Europe to plead his  case to the founders of the band, permission was granted, as long as  the band received a percentage of the film profits. The film turned  out to be a big international hit. The film helped inspire the very  successful Broadway show "Mamma