Corinne Cléry was not Carlo Lizzani's first choice as leading actress. He first thought of Liv Ullmann and then of Jennifer O'Neill but both refused the role because of the long and too explicit nude scenes the character required.
At the time this film came out, newspaper advertisements said it contained unsimulated sex. Corinne Cléry, the main actress, then sued the distribution and production companies, complaining that the advertisement, according to her false, had damaged her private and professional life. On the other hand, the two companies defended themselves and brought as testimony a series of photos from the set showing "the beginning of the sexual act, complete with insertion". In the end, the magistrate agreed with the production and distribution companies, on the grounds that the non-simulated sexual acts could also be referred to other actresses of the film and therefore avoided considering the photos.
In the following years, Mrs. Clery has always denied the genuineness of the sexual acts in the film.
Bruce Robinson says he never wanted to see this film, which in his opinion is "basically high-class pornography". He recalls: 'Try and get an erection, Bruce.' I'm like, 'Fuck off! Get an erection, with fifty people standing here?' One lunchtime one of the prop men comes up to me with a box that looks like it contains duelling pistols, and there are all these fake dicks in there and he wants me to strap one on. I thought, 'Christ almighty! I've been to drama school! No!' It was a very rude film. Lots of ridiculous sex scenes that were the most unusual things I've ever done."