The film is based on Rooks' experiences with drug addiction and includes cameo appearances by William S. Burroughs, Swami Satchidananda, Allen Ginsberg, Moondog, Ornette Coleman, The Fugs, and Ravi Shankar.

Rooks had commissioned Coleman to compose music for the film, but his score, which has become known as the Chappaqua Suite, was not used.

[2][3] American Russel Harwick travels to a villa outside Paris to receive treatment for drug addiction.

The film briefly depicts Chappaqua, New York, a hamlet in Westchester County, in a few minutes of wintry panoramas.

[citation needed] The film was shot in England, France, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the United States.