'Blow-Up' trivia and fun facts
Audition
During film, David Hemmings was annoyed to see that Michelangelo Antonioni was shaking his head back and forth in the gesture that he had interpreted as negative during his audition process. However, he soon realized that the gesture was simply a tic and had no negative meaning at all. "Once the mystery was solved," he said, "I was prepared to love him; and I never told him about the week of hell he'd put me through as a result of his affliction."
First nudity
Reportedly the first British feature film to show full frontal female nudity.
London
Even though the film was set in London, Michelangelo Antonioni was adamant that the story wasn't necessarily about London.
The Yardbirds
The film contains a rare performance of The Yardbirds during the period when Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were both in the band. Jeff Beck would leave a few months later.
Nikon
Thomas' workhorse camera was the then innovative Nikon F, the world's first 35mm SLR with full coupling of shutter and aperture with its exposure meter. Even though the particular model had been around since 1959, the glamorous publicity it received in the movie generated an unprecedented enthusiasm among camera buffs, professionals and amateurs alike.
Cortazar
Among the homeless men whose photos were taken by the David Hemmings character is Julio Cortázar who wrote the original short story on which Blow-Up (Deseo de una mañana de verano) (1966) is based.
Sean Connery
Sean Connery turned down the lead role, because, "I couldn't understand what Antonioni was talking about."
Evabritt Strandberg
Michelangelo Antonioni's first choice for the role of Jane was the Swedish actress Evabritt Strandberg, after spotting her in Bo Widerberg's film Kärlek 65 (1965). She went to London to meet Antonioni. He approved of her, but the three MGM bosses present at the meeting didn't like her "big nose". The role went to Vanessa Redgrave.
The colour of the grass
According to Don McCullin in his autobiography "Unreasonable Behaviour", director Michelangelo Antonioni was unhappy with the color of the grass in Maryon Park. He had it sprayed green so he could re-shoot the scene.
The Velvet Underground
Michelangelo Antonioni's original choice for the rock band was The Velvet Underground but there were problems over their work permits at the time. The In Crowd (who later became Tomorrow) were then offered the cameo but dropped out at the last minute, and the guitar destroyed by Jeff Beck - probably in emulation of The Who's Pete Townshend - was owned by The In Crowd guitarist Steve Howe.
Mad for painting
To help translate his vision of a specific heightened reality, Michelangelo Antonioni altered certain visuals by painting trees, streets, grass and houses in order to get the look he wanted on film.