David Hemmings on BLOW-UP

In this excerpt from an interview on the Canadian program City Lights, the actor discusses his experience working on the Michelangelo Antonioni masterpiece.

[@johnperring6688]

David was my Dad’s mate. He took me to Battersea funfair and painted a picture of the London docks from my Dad’s office that I still have to this day. His girlfriend was the actress Jane Merrow and she was gorgeous. David affected and influenced my concept of “cool” for the rest of my life....RIP David.

[@juliomedina18]

Wow, this lucky guy here ))

[@stevemossholder]

Did you ever see the older Hemmings in Last Orders? Wonderful movie, with a huge cast of huge stars. With Caine, Courtney, Hoskins, Mirren.

[@Z_Victory_Z]

I'll give you 20 quid for that painting.

[@dereham1]

Top film. Top actor. I watch this movie every few years and always find something new.

[@anniemihn]

The film still feels fresh and so modern. Hemmings is also simply unforgettable. Such an exquisite and carismatic man!

[@michaeloneale1267]

Loved ‘Blow Up’. First saw it when I was a teenager. Very suspenseful, even frightening. Those 10 minutes or more when Hemmings enlarges the prints and pins them on the wall with no dialogue are wonderful.

[@resist4resist]

Exactly. The way the entire scene is shot, actually inspired me to shoot on film, develop and print my own photographs!

[@stevemossholder]

Exactly. I love this movie. But I have a take that is the murder never really happened. It is all in his mind, as is the gun, and the tennis balls for the mimes. Maybe I am alone in left field. The corpse was so phony, so plastic, I gleaned that it was not real. In Hemmings' head - and then in ours.

[@paulyeats4789]

​@@resist4resist Me too!

[@TvDaddyAndTheTabloidArmy]

​@@stevemossholder you're alone in left field

[@bensho2212]

Happy to see an Umpa lunpa conducting the interview. just proves there is life after working in a chocolate factory.

[@southlondon86]

LOL that is exactly what came to my mind as soon as I saw him. Horrible thing to say, I'm not perfect myself but it's funny.

[@alexschmidt2589]

I specifically came to the comments to see a comment like this. WTF is going on with the host?

[@PieAndChips]

Brilliant

[@jennyriveros594]

Jajajaja

[@kathrinfisher3411]

So so wrong but so so accurate lol x

[@marcmontplaisir4863]

One of the best movie i ever saw. The decisive moment that made me a professional photographer since 30 years. ;-)

[@thethirdman225]

Marc Montplaisir Same for me.

[@johnhoneyman4049]

Me too

[@johnnygilroy5213]

He made me a photographer too:)

[@jan208]

David Hemmings was very handsome and a fantastic actor.

[@theartist124]

He was really natural in Blow Up, mesmerizing, probably what made the film (and a cameo from Jimmy Page lol).

[@irish66]

and jeff beck

[@maydom04]

And Keith Relf

[@waynej2608]

Oh yeah, that's right. The band played in some bar called 'The Ricky Tick'. I always was amused by that name. And they played, what I thought, was an early version of Aerosmith's, Train Kept a Rollin'. But, without lyrics, I think. It's been been awhile since I've seen it. I need to watch it again. I really dig Antonioni's work. And Hemmings is a solid actor.

[@markoman33]

@@waynej2608 The song in the film performed by the Yardbirds was officially called "Stroll On": which was actually an updated version with new lyrics of the Yardbirds earlier 1965 hit cover of "Train Kept A- Rollin." The difference of course was that by the time the film version came out, the Yardbirds had dueling lead guitarists with Page/Beck.

[@stevemossholder]

Oh come on dont dis Jeff Beck destroying the guitar as well! But yes, he was a natural.

[@3vimages471]

Hemmings was naturally supercool.

[@simonroper4713]

I love David Hemmings. Thank you

[@ShahyarGhanbari]

A MASTERPIECE by Maestro ANTONIONI with GREAT David... MERCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.

[@ter521fad]

"People thought I was dead. But I wasn't. I was just directing The A-Team." - David Hemmings.

[@susanhaines8094]

I went to school with David and he lived near me. He was discovered by Benjamin Brittain having got a beautiful voice for singing. RIP

[@spactick]

who's the interviewer?

[@julianholman7379]

@@spactick Brian Lineman also dead now

[@spactick]

@@julianholman7379 thanks Julian, I did a little research and found out that he had passed away

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@julianholman7379 *Linehan Linehan's friend, Martin Short, did a parody of him as Brock Linehan in SCTV.

[@julianholman7379]

@@jamesanthony5681 quite brilliant

[@juliemix3373]

Loved the movie when it came out; adored David Hemmings. This was a really good interview. Thanks.

[@garrison6863]

This was one of the better film shows ever. Big stars went to Canada because they knew they would be interviewed by someone who was bright, interested and did his research.

[@stevequizodlibumpbumpbump3575]

Pray tell to us how you know what went on behind the scenes. Thank you. Or, if you were only guessin, please tell to us that you were guessin, thank you.

[@arricammarques1955]

Brian research remains legendary and beloved by actors.

[@ronscott5206]

RIP David Hemmings.

[@rockaustin5130]

David looks like a lead singer in a 70's rock band.

[@hastingsgal]

Brilliant actor - epitome of 60s and 70s British cool! Great interview!

[@frostylunetta]

Hemmings is really irresistible. Love him most in Blow Up There's something special about English accents that I find so attractive in British actors. 😘

[@monkeytennis8861]

He's grotesque

[@Lola-AreaCode212]

​@@monkeytennis8861 no, that'd be you.

[@ZigSputnik]

@@monkeytennis8861 Troll.

[@waynem7634]

Brian Linehan from Hamilton, Canada was one of the greatest interviewers. Celebrities loved him. He really did his homework. Interviewers today are just PR hacks. Agents won't even allow them to ask their celebrity clients good questions. Sad.

[@Z_Victory_Z]

Really enjoyed him in Willy Wonka. Talented little man.

[@VinceFS]

Brian Linehan, one of my favorite and best film journalists ever

[@arricammarques1955]

Legendary research & anecdotes surprised many guests.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

@@arricammarques1955 And inspired Martin Short's brilliant 'Brock Linehan' spoof.

[@horrorfanandy4647]

A really great little interview. My introduction to Hemmings was a little different to most, as a fervent disciple of Dario Argento, I first discovered him through his fantastic performance in Deep Red, (as opposed to Blow Up, which is what most seem to know him best for) he played Marcus Daly brilliantly, and made him a very compelling and likeable protagonist. I have not seen a single film he has been in where he hasn’t captured my attention totally and completely. And what a voice he had! Eloquent and thoughtful does not do it justice! A brilliant actor, the likes of which are rare, he is much missed. Rest In Peace.

[@OutOnTheTiles]

What a great interviewer Brian was. He was the absolute best! He was from Toronto. The movie Blow Up is awesome and the entire movie can be found for free right here on Y T.

[@magicknight13]

Love Blow-Up!!!

[@hdholl9696]

David Hemmings spoke the most beautiful English there was. Also this is an anachronism today.

[@ZigSputnik]

Yes. RIP spoken English.

[@lilabalz]

Thank you for sharing xxx

[@mckavitt13]

I miss David Hemmings, Benjamin Britten's 1st boy soprano in his Turn of the Screw, premiered in Venice & a big hit. BB was infatuated w the 13 going on 25 yr old Hemmings, but never, according to Hemmings's own testimony, acted on his attraction to boys. David Hemmings said of BB: "I adored him. I didn't fancy him. My time in the Red House was the happiest time in my life." They died on the same day, 25 years apart. RIP, DH

[@mkq77]

"They died on the same day, 25 years apart." Given that there's only a 1/364th chance of that happening, it's… kinda spooky.😎

[@jodifritz9456]

Bless David Hemmings heart 💗

[@Ax18NY]

Great film.

[@barefootfrolick]

fantastic, would love to see the full interview

[@TomangoSF]

The interviewer's story-telling question is manner of media showboating that's still with us, here we have it in its lush 70s style glory!

[@patrickney6584]

TomangoSF I agree. It strikes me as pretentious.

[@LucBoeren]

I think he's showing interest and respect by reciting obscure trivia, and also uses the story-telling question to start a conversation. Now, how would you go about it, were you in his position? It's a rather odd and specific question, so I think it's probably best he ornamented it with a little introduction.

[@wiseonwords]

@@patrickney6584 - Brian Linehan was incredibly pretentious!

[@denisemontague7532]

he's very handsome

[@nikosvault]

Well, watch him in Gladiator then...

[@alexblock2248]

nikosvault Glad it wasn't just me.

[@IsisTR]

why!!

[@willowmadhuridixit8991]

Indeed. Those piecing, twinkling blue eyes.

[@Marceroxysanmiguelarcangel]

Very handsome :)

[@brunobalzano7566]

Marvelous actor acting in a masterpiece ❤️

[@ElectroDrives]

I love how candid he was about it haha. Blow-Up was an incredible film. My Top 20 for sure

[@maydom04]

Sadly both are gone.....wish there was more Linehan on KZbin....he was simply the best interviewer an actor could have.

[@Rose-qd2bl]

David Hemmings was sexy. Even when he got older.This interviewer was the basis for Martin Short's character Brock Lynehan on SCTV

[@gordonm7038]

Brilliant actor. Ollie Reed once dangled him off a balcony but they were great friends.

[@mkq77]

Why did Ollie dangle him? It's 6 years since you posted that and we still don't know.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@mkq77 Hemmings mentioned it in his autobiography. If I remember rightly, it was during the filming of The System - Hemmings and Reed had been drinking heavily the night before and Hemmings woke up to find Reed dangling him off a hotel balcony and asking him how he liked it. It must have been Reed's idea of a joke. If I was Hemmings, I would never have spoken to Reed again.

[@mkq77]

​@@ppuh6tfrz646 Thanks, sounds like Reed was channeling Keith Moon.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@mkq77 You're welcome. I'll check his autobiography again and let you know what happened. As I read the autobiography, I started to take some of Hemmings' stories with a pinch of salt but this was such an extreme incident that it's probably true.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@mkq77 This was what Hemmings wrote: "I awoke in a dazzling haze and found myself staring up into the face of a swarthy orang-utan who breathed a fiery Anglo-American tang of Jack Daniel's and Boddington's Best. This could only get worse. My tongue felt like an affectionate kitten that had fallen into a deep sleep, not to be disturbed, in my mouth. I was also - and here's the good bit - hanging over a vicious set of spearhead railings sixty feet below while large drips of soda water splashed on to me from the orang-utan's neck. The orang-utan was Reed, and he was holding me by my ankles, dangling me from a sixth-floor window of the Grand Hotel, Torquay, while being liberally sprayed with a soda siphon by a drunk and giggling Andrew Ray - all for a bet, for God's sake - and I prayed he wouldn't drop me. 'How do you like this, boy?' Ollie growled like a bear, and another squirt from Andrew's siphon dribbled off his chin on to my naked arse. 'Wanna come up, boy?' Oliver had a grin that split his face like an early muppet, but with less of the charm. Miraculously, I was heaved back in, wet with soda and sweat, and handed a drink, which I'd never needed more."

[@auroramarino1656]

A beatiful man!! A great actor!!! IL mio ricordo 🌹❤️

[@Eric_Gilbert]

Amazing actor amazing film

[@TheWaterboarders]

Hemmings was a member of the Magic Circle and was a skilled and entertaining pick pocket

[@paulwilliams5013]

....aaah, maybe a clue.. when he skilfully runs the coin over the back of his hand when he's sitting in his office. talking to the girls.

[@8lifeisamovie8]

Only one interview in english with Hammings...I can't believe it...

[@christoph404]

Antonioni first of all wined and dined actor Terence Stamp and formally offered him the role, Terence Stamp said yes please and thought he was going to be doing the film, he didn't hear back from Antonioni or his producers for a while but just thought that was the norm for the film business, Stamp was an actor of considerable stature at the time, but as time passed he then he learned that David Hemmings was cast in the role through a public press release in the newspapers, Antonioni nor the film company never bothered to get back to Terence Stamp to let him know they had changed their minds. That is a true story that Stamp told during an interview with Mark Cousins and he sounded mighty pissed off as he recalled the experience.

[@maydom04]

I would be upset too...Antonioni goes down 2 nothces in my esteem for him....

[@tomkent4656]

Antonioni dropped Stamp because he suspected that his wife, Monica Vitti had the hots for our Terry!

[@crimesofthecentury2714]

Stamp could have done it as well as Hemmings. Similar actors physically and somewhat in style. Strange he changed his mind. Did anyone ever ask him why he changed his mind?

[@jochenstossberg5427]

@@crimesofthecentury2714 Yes, he could have. Terrence Stamp was a bit more 'knowing' that David was though. And the film needs the character to be a bit naieve.

[@amaraprabhu1982]

Smoking a cigarette while attending an interview .. the 70s and 80s were so badass ..

[@mutinyonthekitkat]

His shirt and watch are very similar to those he wore in Blow Up.

[@mealotsav4227]

DH is such a beautiful man when he was young. Don’t know what happened as he got older with his eyebrows.

[@61subsandnovideos]

I guess it's bc of wrinkles?

[@texasred2702]

As you get older, the eyebrows grow wild and so do the nose and ear hairs, but you'll get to find that out for yourself.

[@Alexander-tj2dn]

ha, ha@@texasred2702

[@chrissnyder1303]

He was awesome in the TV Series Air Wolf

[@harpo.marx1917]

David Hemmings, in this interview, with that shirt and that hair and hairstyle, demonstrate that "any past was better."

[@JeewanthaBandara]

It's kinda incredible how much Nolan Hemmings (his son) resembles him

[@flyingfrogofdeath9616]

That is one articulate Oompa Loompa

[@jrbleau]

1977 on the City Lights TV interview series

[@clemdane]

If he means the scene where he goes back to the park at night, that is one of the most eerie and suspenseful scenes I've ever seen. I even put it in a compilation I made once of most significant moments in film.

[@just.do.something]

I was thinking the same thing, when he mentioned a specific scene. I thought it had to be that scene as well. I was quite uneasy watching that scene. Slowly thrilling.

[@watermelonlalala]

I think that scene is the equivalent of the scene in horror movies where the girl leaves the house at night and goes wandering around in a night gown. And you are supposed to be irritated with the girl for being so dumb.

[@rocmarciano1786]

Don't think he means the scene in the park at night, it's not that slow. My guess is the sequence where he discovers the murder on the photographs.

[@clemdane]

@@rocmarciano1786 That;'s possible. There are slow sequences in the film. You have to adjust yourself to the pace and give in to it.

[@mutinyonthekitkat]

I think its the scene where he enlarges the photographs and pins them up around the room and we see in them a sequence of events that apparently took place.

[@jochenstossberg5427]

He was stunningly handsome when he was very young. Sad to see how he deteriorated. It's difficult to understand why he didn't initially understand Blow Up, though. Rewatching it today, it's still gripping, and wonderful - and not hard to fathom at all really. He was very good in lots of movies -but frustrating that he was the only actor in Camelot who could actually sing - and they dropped the characters song.

[@Alexander-tj2dn]

He ended up directing episodes of the A team. It seems that he was a fairly simple guy and very alien to the subtle and philosophical approach that Antonioni's superb film proposes.

[@61subsandnovideos]

His only interview and he looks like that. His young self was still handsome in my book.

[@erictheking97]

Handsome dude, would never believe it was the same person in his later years.

[@newvaguecity]

I find it very strange that a man of certain cultural calibre like Hemmings failed to read the film the first time he saw it. Antonioni was a genius of the highest order, surely he could have picked up on it while working with him, had he not already seen his previous masterpieces.

[@ZigSputnik]

Maybe too close to the mechanics of it and needed a little time to step back.

[@middaysun3553]

One of the few English men that i physically like a lot 😊

[@susanhaines8094]

David was born in Guildford, grew up in Tolworth. He was a very talented young man and really made a name for himself. Sadly I do not know the name of the interviewer.

[@NoosaHeads]

When was this interview filmed ?

[@Z_Victory_Z]

Not sure about the timing, but I believe the location was somewhere in between the chocolate stream and Wonka's personal office.

[@thethirdman225]

How long did that first quest go for? Couldn’t he have got David Hemmings to describe all those bits himself?

[@zackthebongripper7274]

Charles Henry Moffet.

[@pedroparamo7351]

2:49-2:52 That's also me, David!!!!!!

[@thegreatpumcshadts406]

From what year is this interview? Anyone know?

[@csjcsj2906]

The Great P U McShadts ‘77

[@fabiopomponi7740]

David Hemmings R.I.P. è stato un bravissimo attore peccato che sia stato valorizzato solo e soprattutto in Italia con film come Blow Up e Deep Red recitando poi in ruoli minori in film come il Gladiatore dovendo fare un paragone mi viene in mente anche la sorte che è toccata ad un altro grande attore Tony Musante poi' dicevano al estero che i film italiani erano dei filmetti paragonati a quelli di Hollywood ed invece i grandi interpreti del cinema Italiano hanno dimostrato al mondo che sapevano scegliere e scoprire i volti ed il talento anche di grandi attori stranieri.

[@arricammarques1955]

David did a cheeky interview about Blow-Up, 'Any one for tennis?'

[@robertusalexander5513]

David Hemmings himself didn't understand the film

[@thethirdman225]

Robertus Alexander Not the first time he saw it.

[@hamburgareable]

Not when he first caught the glimpse of it.

[@juliajulie8500]

Well that's unfortunate because the film isn't so hard to understand

[@tjiddesvensson4658]

Not so surprising ! It's very overrated and boring

[@jeffstahl1664]

Cloud-gazing. Do I see a whale in the drifting cloud, while another sees a bowl of pudding in the same? In either case, it is only a cloud and it is we who impose meaning and ascribe value on the meaninglessness of the drifting cloud. While some elements of Blow-Up are noteworthy; cinematography, sets, and costumes, While it is.a perfect representation of post-modernism, I feel it falls far short of a cinematic masterpiece. Experimental, yes, but many experiments fail. And this contrived story used to link together unbelievable characters, with inconsistent motivations, requires us to overlay meaning for there to be any. It requires us to imagine value where there is little.

[@doccyclopz]

Wow Brian Linehan

[@brandaohimself]

This dude had to be the inspiration for the oompa loompa. Holy shit

[@Alexander-tj2dn]

It´s ironic the main actor of this subtle and fabulous film didn´t understand it nor liked it. Reality is so disapointing!

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

I fell for him in "Camelot!"

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

As Mordred!

[@TheLegendMaster]

I like him in Alfred the Great.

[@rozchristopherson648]

That's when I first remember seeing him. Excellent movie.

[@JoeyChilango]

He was also good in The Charge of the Light Brigade.

[@giorix5918]

great wig, that bloke

[@johnbatson8779]

sad to see David blown up physically in the Gladiator as the head of the Games

[@kakapomax]

why is an ompa lumpa interviewing david hemmings?

[@cdwattie]

Oompa Loompa

[@vishwasshankar3929]

was'nt he wearing the same type of suit in the movie as well?

[@user-jn7tc3tp2x]

Dr. Charles Henry Moffett.

[@Legitcar117]

GG Channel airwolf goes back to the womb...with a boom. Check and mate...that’s all folks!

[@user-mc5pl8js9h]

He reminds me of Richard Burton

[@mrinalkantinath1271]

Hemmings had his own dismissive way of mingling with the most frolicking on screen beauties

[@berserk322]

He looked almost 28 in the film

[@andynixon2820]

I've seen a few antonioni films and on first view never really liked any of them . Then they slowly grow on you after subsequent viewings and you see how brilliant they are . Blow up is wonderful but earlier films are better .

[@Z_Victory_Z]

Hemmings was interviewed by an Oompa-Loompa? Amazing

[@nightfire734]

I really can't get over how the interviewer looks like an Oompa-Loompa (and I'm glad to see other people saw it too).

[@christiansfortruth5953]

Who is this interviewer? Is there a question in the near future at the start of his blurb or do we have to wait until he has finished his phyco babble trying to impress.

[@saraw3418]

Also he has no nose.

[@argelbargel7680]

If it makes him feel any better, I didn't entirely understand it either.

[@spactick]

i think it's best when a film doesn't make sense, because when it does it stops 'becoming'. I mean after all what sense does Kubrick's 2001 make? answer: nothing, and that's what gives it legs. That's why we continue to talk about it

[@juliajulie8500]

@@spactickHow doesn't it make any sense? I think the murder did take place and that something isn't real until people around you acknowledge it. He tried hard to tell people around him about the murder but noone cared. Like the guitar, something is only important when it's acknowledged by others. Putting it in a different context and it becomes irrelevant. People around him lived in a fake make believe world and it was their reality. In the end he gave in playing by their rules, forgetting everything he saw and becoming just like the rest of them...

[@spactick]

@@juliajulie8500 Mr. Hemmings himself said the film made no sense. What resolution was there to the killing? No one was went to jail. No one was accused of the crime. No one claimed responsibility etc; there was just a lot of loose ends that left the viewer scratching his or her head. Not unlike the ending in 2001. I mean what the hell was the ending in 2001 about? Kubrick refused to give any hints, but I don't think he himself knew what the ending was about either, or cared. This is my point

[@juliajulie8500]

@@spactick That's the point that there is no resolution. In the end he gave into the game set by others and ignored the murder just like everyone else around him. No one will ever know what happened in that park because no one cared enough to find out and to them the murder doesn't exist. What more of a resolution do you need?

[@spactick]

@@juliajulie8500 what more of a resolution do you need? who me? personally I could care less, ha! but as a resolution to the film? let me see, like who killed him? why was he killed? etc; minor things like that have a tendency to satisfy the average persons curiosity I would imagine Julie Julie. But as i said, it only adds more intrigue to the film when things go unanswered

[@Soundofsilver2007]

This mustn’t be toooo long after the film but he looks muuuuuuch older.

[@littlehammers9032]

DH being interview by an umpa lumpa

[@chrisbyars4422]

The interviewer was onto spray tan before spray tan was a thing.

[@Z_Victory_Z]

Stuck to his skin since Willy Wonka.

[@vonkraft3700]

red deep by Dario Argento

[@fcoquezada]

Who's the Oompa Loompa

[@GaryALucas]

'Blow Up' is not the first character portrait to test the patience. I fortunately had it though.

[@mikemorgan7893]

Hemmings was still quite thin here. The weight gain and his voice sounding like gravel would come later.

[@hamburgareable]

Sadly, yes

[@-elchoya9832]

he would have made a great lawrence of arabia,if it were made 4 years later,1966 that is not 1962 as it was made.

[@ZipSlipHollingbrook]

Is the interviewer a real life Umpa Lumpa?

[@ionescunatalia3021]

DAVUD HEMMINGS DIED IN BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

[@amarok5048]

Died at 62. Smoking?

[@spactick]

of course

[@hamburgareable]

Naturally.

[@saraw3418]

Alcohol . He drank like a fish. Gained a lot of weight.

[@Johnconno]

Weirdest looking interviewer I've seen.

[@borissavinkov440]

The interviewer succeeds in mispronouncing Antonioni for most of the interview.

[@melsteffano6189]

Stop it with this one hit wonder

[@roathripper]

it was a shockingly disappointing film. that was the 60s i guess,

[@greytoeimp]

i think that was the idea somehow

[@michaelclark5732]

The original script was much longer but Antonioni went over budget. Here's the account from the grey haired corpse Ronan O'Casey... www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/corpse-from-blow-up-speaks

[@thethirdman225]

RoathRipper It’s _the_ film about the 60s. It’s brilliant and I’ve loved it for 40+ years.

[@juliajulie8500]

The movie is brilliant, one of my favorites

[@monikaszymanowska5142]

@@michaelclark5732 Awesome story, thanks for the link! Reminds me of an old joke about Egyptian engineers supervising the transport of stone blocks to the construction site of future tombs. They look at the chaos among the hundreds of workers moving gigantic blocks in all directions and trying to arrange them in layers. Finally one of the engineers says: "Ok, here's the plan. Let's put for now all this stone together into these makeshift piles and we will figure out how to use it later." :-)