Maryon Park, Woolwich, London
Maryon Park was the main setting for the 1966 Michelangelo Antonioni’s cult movie ‘Blow-Up’ featuring David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave. David Hemmings played Thomas, a top London fashion photographer captivated by his photographs of a murder, whilst Vanessa Redgrave is the woman at the centre of his interest. His photographs depict a murder scene… or do they? What you see, and what you don’t see, is the enigma central to the story. My photographs taken in 1998 show a park that has changed little in 32 years, the upper meadow where the supposed murder took place is a bit run-down now, but the lower meadow still has its original tennis courts used in the movie, and much of the scenery is unchanged. Beyond the courts there is a hedge now, the flower beds have been altered since the movie, and there is perhaps a little more litter around, but to be fair… a school party had just left from having a picnic when I arrived! http://twitpic.com/photos/patricallaghan3
hi im curious to know what the neon sign overlooking maryon park means when i saw it i thought of an add for a james bond film as it looked like a gun and a seven joined together does anyone know
Hi Dudley, At the time of shooting the area around the park was under redevelopment, very little of the surrounding area that you see in the movie exists today. The bric-a-brac shop has long since gone and the street it stood in is now a housing estate. I’ve always made the assumption that the neon sign was the name of the building contractors. Hope this helps. Best wishes. Patrick.