 Roger Corman (qv) was having a minor dispute with American  International. He decided to do this "Poe" picture elsewhere. He was  able to get financing from Pathe Labs (which wanted to go into  distribution). When Samuel Z. Arkoff (qv) learned of this, he  traveled to New York to talk with the owner of Pathe Labs. Arkoff  felt that Pathe was stepping into American Internationals business.  Pathes was not moved until Arkoff pointed out that American  International was one of Pathe Labs largest customers and that if  it was going into competition with AIP, all of AIPs lab work would  be pulled. Pathe sold the production to American International  before principal photography began.