Blue Velvet Behind The Scenes

The oxygen mask used by Dennis Hopper in the scenes at Dorothy Vallens' apartment was intended by Lynch to dispense helium. The resulting helium voice - given the profanity in those scenes - would have given them a different flavor indeed! Due to the danger of inhaling helium, however, Dennis Hopper refused to comply.

The scene in which Jeffrey & Frank go driving at whiplash speeds was filmed by having the stagehands rock the non-moving car while other stagehands ran past with lights in their hands.

A scene in which Dennis Hopper slaps Isabella Rossellini across the face was edited to just be heard off-screen to satisfy MPAA concerns about violence towards women. Lynch stated that in his opinion the change made the scene more disturbing.

Several of the actors who were considered for the role of Frank found the character too repulsive and intense. Dennis Hopper, by contrast, is reported to have exclaimed, "I've got to play Frank. Because I am Frank!"

Isabella Rossellini actually was naked under her velvet robe, when she did the "ritualistic rape scene". A fact that her partner Dennis Hopper was not aware of, until the cameras started rolling and his co-actor opened her legs for him to kneel between. This scene was the very first time the two of them worked together.

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