Production
Blake Edwards suffered continual interference from Paramount Pictures executives while making the film, and it was eventually edited by the studio largely without his input. The director later satirized the problems he faced in the film S.O.B. (1981), which was distributed by Paramount theatrically.
Problems with the May 1968 protests in France led to much of the planned Parisian shooting to be done in Brussels.
Darling Lili made use of Lynn Garrison’s aviation facility at Weston Aerodrome, Leixlip, Ireland. This collection of World War I replica fighter aircraft, facilities and support equipment was originally put together in support of 20th Century Fox’s 1966 film The Blue Max. The aerial fleet included a sole Caudron 277, two Fokker DR 1s, three Fokker D VIIs, two Se 5as and two Pfalz D IIIs (all full-scale replicas). In addition, the studio contracted with Slingsby Aircraft Ltd to build six 7/8th scale SE 5s (the "Mini SE 5"). The Paramount production utilized the assembled aircraft for thousands of flying hours and accumulated hundreds of hours of aerial footage. Pilots were drawn from the Irish Air Corps and civilian circles. Charles Boddington and Derek Piggott did many of the more spectacular stunts.
The film's distribution was badly managed by Paramount executives and barely got a release in most of the United States. Despite setting box-office records at Radio City Music Hall, the film was a commercial failure. Budgeted at $25 million, it grossed only $5 million in the US, and later earned $3.3 million in videotape rentals.
A widescreen Director's Cut, significantly shorter than the original release and more serious in tone, was prepared for home video release and for television in 1992 and this version was transferred to Region 1 DVD. The full original version, complete with overture and exit music, has aired on Turner Classic Movies as well as receiving commercial release on Region 2 DVD in Europe. A fuly restored, new Dolby SR 35mm print of the Director's Version premiered at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival during a retrospective of the films of Blake Edwards, and was attended by Mr. Edwards and Ms. Andrews.
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