Blowup (1966)

Director:

Michelangelo Antonioni

Writers:

Michelangelo Antonioni (story)
Julio Cortázar (short story)
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Mystery

Tagline:

Michelangelo Antonioni's first British film

Plot:

A mod London photographer believes that he has photographed a murder.

Plot Keywords:

Rock Band | Art House | Female Nudity | Mod | Bright Color

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Vanessa Redgrave	...	Jane
Sarah Miles	...	Patricia
David Hemmings	...	Thomas
John Castle	...	Bill
Jane Birkin	...	The Blonde
Gillian Hills	...	The Brunette
Peter Bowles	...	Ron
Veruschka von Lehndorff	...	Herself (as Verushka)
Julian Chagrin	...	Mime
Claude Chagrin	...	Mime
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeff Beck	...	Himself with The Yardbirds (uncredited)
Susan Broderick	...	Antique shop owner (uncredited)
Tsai Chin	...	Thomas' receptionist (uncredited)
Chris Dreja	...	Himself in the Yardbirds (uncredited)
Melanie Hampshire	...	Model (uncredited)
Harry Hutchinson	...	Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Jill Kennington	...	Model (uncredited)
Mary Khal	...	Fashion editor (uncredited)
Chas Lawther	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jim McCarty	...	Himself in the Yardbirds (uncredited)
Peggy Moffitt	...	Model (uncredited)
Rosaleen Murray	...	Model (uncredited)
Ann Norman	...	Model (uncredited)
Ronan O'Casey	...	Jane's lover in park (uncredited)
Jimmy Page	...	Himself with The Yardbirds (uncredited)
Keith Relf	...	Himself in The Yardbirds (uncredited)
Janet Street-Porter	...	Girl Dancing In Club (uncredited)
Reg Wilkins	...	Thomas' assistant Reg (uncredited)

Directed by
Michelangelo Antonioni

Writing credits
Michelangelo Antonioni		(story)
Julio Cortázar		(short story) (as Julio Cortazar)
Michelangelo Antonioni		(screenplay) and
Tonino Guerra		(screenplay)
Edward Bond		(English dialogue)

Produced by
Carlo Ponti	....	producer
Pierre Rouve	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Herbie Hancock		(as Herbert Hancock)

Cinematography by
Carlo Di Palma		(director of photography) (as Carlo di Palma)

Film Editing by
Frank Clarke		(uncredited)

Casting by
Irene Howard		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Assheton Gorton

Costume Design by
Jocelyn Rickards		(dresses)

Makeup Department
Stephanie Kaye	....	hair stylist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Donald Toms	....	production manager
Roy Parkinson	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claude Watson	....	assistant director
Antal Kovacs	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Roger King	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robin Gregory	....	sound recordist
Mike Le Mare	....	sound editor
J.B. Smith	....	dubbing mixer
Arkadi De Rakoff	....	assistant sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Parslow	....	camera operator
Arthur Evans	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Dennis C. Lewiston	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Alec Mills	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Breed	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alan Corder	....	assembly cutter (uncredited)

Other crew
John Cowan	....	photographic murals
Piers Haggard	....	dialogue assistant
Betty Harley	....	continuity
Bruce Sharman	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Bridge Films

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1966) (UK) (theatrical)
• Premier Productions (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• MFA Filmdistribution
• MGM/UA Home Video (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1967) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD) (censored version)

Other Companies

• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design (sound effects)

Also Known As:

Blow-Up (Italy) (USA)
Blow Up (UK) (alternative spelling)
Blow Up (Greece) [el]
Blow Up (West Germany) [de]
Blow up - förstoringen (Sweden) [sv]
Blow-Up (Deseo de una mañana de verano) (Spain) [es]
Blow-Up - Depois Daquele Beijo (Brazil) [pt]
Blow-Up - erään suudelman jälkeen (Finland) [fi]
Blowup - Deseo en una mañana de verano (Argentina) [es]
Cinayeti gördüm (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ekstaze '67 (West Germany) [de]
História de Um Fotógrafo (Portugal) [pt]
Nagyítás (Hungary) [hu]
Poveæanje (Croatia) [hr]
Powiekszenie (Poland) [pl]
Uvecanje (Serbia) [sr]
Yetzarim (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Zvetsenina (Czechoslovakia: Czech title) [cs]

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK | Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:14A (video rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:Not Rated (video rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | UK:X (original rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | Germany:16 (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating) (w) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2005) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Bridge Films

Trivia:

The photographs featured in the film were taken by Don McCullin.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the park the lens protector is down on the grass between Thomas's feet. He then takes a long step to bend down and pick up the lens protector from a distance.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mime: Give me your money. Do it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)

Soundtrack:

Stroll On

Undeservingly hated.

It is hard to find people who will readily defend this movie these days. It is commonly thought of as pretentious, overly artsy, and lacking coherence. If you don't connect with the film that is fine, but to call it trash is a mistake. Many people try to pin this as being a 60's statement. It is not however. Antonioni was a veteran filmmaker who got lumped in with the new wave scene because he was around at the same time. This was initially a hit, though that probably had little to due with it's actual merits as a film.

It is the story of an artist. The photographer Thomas, who has lost all feeling of passion for his work. He hangs around London taking fashion photographs. He is cruel to his models and other women in his life. He seems interested in other's art but cannot be roused to create any of his own. He will soon be releasing a book of photographs, all of which are uninspired photos of the poor, sick and dying. While in the park he takes a series of shots he hopes will be a nice epilogue to his collection. They are of a couple playing in the park. These pictures, however, are not what they seem.

Antonioni makes great use of insinuation. He tantalizes us with the possibility of what could have been. In us he insights the same passion that is in Thomas. In the end, I don't think he disappears so much as he returns. He does not return as the same person, though. He is changed by the passion for his art and the challenge of reality. He is no longer playing the game of catch the murderer, or faking the motions of being a photographer, or posing as a deep artist by taking sad pictures. He is now truly inspired.

Today many people hate Thomas. And with good reason. He is definitely not a nice person, but he is one of my favorite anti-heroes. There is a scene many people may miss. It is short. He is driving in his car, I think after speeding off from some want to be models, he turns on the radio, and starts bobbing his head and making funny faces to the music. This is the scene that redeems his early self to me. When he is alone, we see he still has an innocent streak despite his cruelty.

All that being said, I only recommend this to the more serious moviegoer. 10/10