ˈæftɚ ɹᵻsˈiːvɪŋ ðə fˈɪlm ɐsˈaɪnmənt wɪð ɪts bˈʌdʒɪt lˈɪmɪt ʌv dˈɑːlɚ wˈʌn mˈɪliən, dᵻɹˈɛktɚ bɹˈɛnɑːn vˈɪzɪɾᵻd ðə mˌɛtɹəpˈɑːlɪtən mjuːzˈiəm ʌv ˈɑːɹt ɪn nˈuː jˈɔːɹk sˈɪɾi wˌɛɹ hiː wʌz ɪnspˈaɪɚd baɪ pˈeɪntɪŋz sˈʌtʃ ɐz ɐ dɹˈiːm ʌvðɪ ɚɹˈeɪbiən nˈaɪts baɪ vˈɪlɛɡəz.
After receiving the film assignment with its budget limit of $1 million, director Brenon visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where he was inspired by paintings such as A Dream of the Arabian Nights by Villegas.