The producers, Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli took a chance and financed the film themselves. The film dealt with Oscar Wilde's homosexuality, so very few theaters would play the film. It almost put the producers to bankruptcy, and broke up the partnership between them, but in Europe it was a great artistic success and won several foreign awards. This also ended Warwick Films - Broccoli's falling out with Allen (which also included optioning the rights to the Ian Fleming's James Bond novels) and resulted in the establishment of Eon Productions where he partnered with Harry Saltzman (who held the option rights) - the result was a successful franchise (James Bond) which has lasted for over 50 years.