Actor-Inspired Element: The nude wrestling scene was Adapted Out in the first draft of the script because Ken Russell feared it wouldn't make it past the censors and be too difficult to shoot. Oliver Reed however lobbied for it to be included, and even wrestled with the director in his kitchen until he agreed to put it in.
Banned in China: The film was banned in Turkey because the nude wrestling scene was considered a graphic gay sex scene.
Enforced Method Acting: Oliver Reed had to be drunk to film the famous nude wrestling match. He convinced Alan Bates to join him too.
Follow the Leader: This was the third film adaptation of a DH Lawrence novel in the late 60s, after The Fox and The Virgin & the Gypsy.
God Never Said That: It was often reported that the nude wrestling scene had to be cut down to appease the censors, as was the sex scene between Gerald and Guldrun. However, John Trevelyan, the acting censor at the time, wrote in his book What The Censor Saw that no cuts were actually made. The British censors considered asking for some but ultimately passed it because they found the film beautiful.
Hide Your Pregnancy: Glenda Jackson was pregnant during filming. In referring to her nude scenes, she said she'd never had such a "wonderful bosom".
No Budget: The film was made for just £1.6 million, and ultimately cost just £1.5 because "everyone was helpful", and some of the actors negotiated for a share of the profits rather than salary.
The Other Marty: Michael Gough was cast after shooting had begun when it was decided that the actor originally given the role was miscast.
Wag the Director: The wrestling match originally took place in a meadow at night. Oliver Reed disliked this idea and suggested it take place indoors. He got his point across by performing a wrestling move on Ken Russell.
Silvio Narizzano was the original director, having commissioned Larry Kramer to develop the script, but he had to leave due to an unpleasant divorce he was going through. Stanley Kubrick, Jack Clayton, and Peter Brook were asked to direct and turned it down before Ken Russell came on board.
Producer Larry Kramer wanted Edward Fox for the role of Gerald. Fox fitted Lawrence's description of the character ("blond, glacial, and Nordic"). Still, United Artists, the studio financing the production, imposed Oliver Reed, a more bankable star, as Gerald even though he was not physically like Lawrence's description of the character. Michael Caine was offered the role, but he couldn't handle the nudity.
While Glenda Jackson was Larry Kramer's first choice for the role of Guldrun, United Artists and Ken Russell were unconvinced; feeling she wasn't beautiful enough for a man to be Driven to Suicide over her. Upon seeing her in Marat/Sade did he realise her "screen personality", and the role was hers.
Faye Dunaway and Vanessa Redgrave turned down the role of Ursula, finding it the less interesting of the two sisters and that they'd be overshadowed by Glenda Jackson. Shirley MacLaine was set to play the role, but she backed out due to the nude scenes. Carol White allegedly turned it down too, despite being offered £10,000 for it.
Ken Russell regretted cutting a scene where the sisters go to London and "sample la vie bohème", feeling it explored their characters more and explained their subsequent behaviour.
