Writing in the "Saturday Evening Post" in 1949, Bud Abbott said this was his favorite film role, because for a change he was the butt of all the punishment, instead of Lou Costello.
The cost of the special effects made this the most expensive Bud Abbott and Lou Costello feature up to that time.
Three weeks into shooting, Lou Costello demanded that his role be switched with Bud Abbott's. When director Charles Barton explained that this was unreasonable, Costello walked off the set. The cast and crew frantically worked around him for the next two weeks, until Costello slipped back onto the set and completed the film. He never apologized or explained his behavior.
Lou Costello's practice of taking home props proved to be a major problem for the special effects crew. In order for the actors to appear transparent, the special effects shots required the sets and props to remain intact for shooting with, and without, the actors. Reportedly on one occasion when Lou removed a prop, it required two days of re-shooting for the special effects department.