 The films US release was delayed when _Yojimbo (1961)_ (qv)  screenwriters Akira Kurosawa (qv) and Ryuzo Kikushima (qv) sued  the filmmakers for breach of copyright. Kurosawa and Kikushima won  and as a result received 15 percent of the films worldwide gross  and exclusive distribution rights for Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.  Kurosawa said later he made more money off of this project than  "Yojimbo".