When filming "the Russian dance sequence" in a theater filled with unsuspecting extras, Dame Vanessa Redgrave duplicated a real-life incident in the life of Isadora Duncan by ripping off the top of her dress and dancing bare-breasted. The extras were not told that she would do this, thus providing the desired audience-aghast reaction shots that director Karel Reisz wanted.
Leading lady Dame Vanessa Redgrave trained for six months in order to imitate Isadora Duncan's dancing style in the film.
The film was selected to screen in competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1969 where the picture ended up winning the Best Actress Award for Dame Vanessa Redgrave for playing Isadora Duncan.
The film's running time ran originally at a length of around 168 minutes. Following this, the film was then cut down to about 138 minutes and this version now runs approximately 131 to 132 minutes on DVD.
Australian daybill movie posters ran with an alleged quote of Isadora Duncan that read: "I would like to go down in history as a great dancer . . . but I suppose I shall be remembered only by the number of lovers I have had".