 The film was meant to cost £350,000 but ended up costing nearly £500,000.Much of the film's impact comes from the vivid Technicolor cinematography (using the only Technicolor camera in England at the time), spectacular period costumes and a unique blend of stylized settings, miniatures and location shooting.The film begins with a handbill floating out of the sky setting the date—the first of May, 1600–and the occasion.