Harris later regarded the film as one of the biggest artistic disappointments of his career.
The film was based on a novel by Romain Gary which was optioned by producer Robert Lantos.
She later recalled: If the book was totally sexist, the first draft screenplay written by an American writer was even more misogynist.
In lieu of money, I got an IBM Selectric II, a free trip to Paris, where some of the film was shot, and tons of experience screenwriter-wise.
Harris recalled, "I saw the rough cut of the picture - it was 2 1/2 hours long... and it was magic.