 Filming was delayed twice because of the cost, and finally began  only when Allen, Irwin (I) (qv) and outside backers matched the  investment of Twentieth Century Fox. Reportedly, Allen found those  backers by walking across the street from the Fox lot to a country  club, where he found some friends playing cards. During the card  game, they agreed to back the film. Because the studio never spent  any of the backers money, the backers made a profit from the  success of the film without actually spending a dime.