 Lucille Ball (qv) had often complained to Columbia Pictures head  Harry Cohn (I) (qv) about the quality of the pictures she had been  doing while under contract to the studio. At the time this picture  was made, Ball was only obligated to Columbia for one more film, and  Cohn had producer Sam Katzman (qv) concoct this cheap Arabian  Nights fantasy as a punishment to Ball for her constantly  challenging him to give her better roles.