Establishing shot of minaret during the title card "Morocco 1971" before Paul finds his father in the opium den, is copied directly from Scott's previous film Black Hawk Down. The shot is used in Black Hawk Down as an establishing when the Mogadishian soldier are in prayer.
Conan Reviews: Christopher Plummer role was controversial because he replaced Kevin Spacey after the film was already completed and this was accomplished through some very quick reshoots and a little bit of CGI.