Blue marked a re-teaming of producers Irwin Winkler and Judd Bernard after 1967’s Point Blank (see entry). Robert Redford was initially attached to star, as announced in a 25 Jan 1967 Var item, which listed Blue as one of twenty-eight feature films Paramount Pictures planned to release between 1967 and 1969. Rod Steiger was sought to co-star with Redford, according to the 20 Apr 1967 DV. However, the 12 Jun 1967 issue noted that Redford had left the project and would be replaced by British actor Terence Stamp. The 23 Apr 1968 DV review of the film later stated that legal action was taken following Redford’s departure, resulting in a rumored settlement.
       Principal photography began in Moab, UT, on 5 Jul 1967, as noted in a 7 Jul 1967 DV production chart. While filming was underway, a second picture, titled Fade In, was shot concurrently. An article in the 30 Jul 1967 LAT explained that, on a location scout for Blue in Apr 1967, director Silvio Narizzano and associate producer Patricia Casey had met a Utah local named Pete Dole, a farmer “who impressed them with the complete harmony with which he lived in his environment.” Casey had imagined what might ensue if a worldly woman like herself had a love affair with Dole; thus, the story for Fade In was built around an unlikely romance between a visiting actress and local cowboy on the set of Blue. Jud Taylor was hired to direct Fade In, with Burt Reynolds and Barbara Loden co-starring. Silvio Narizzano and Judd Bernard, among others, were set to appear as themselves. The budget for Fade In was cited as $400,000 in the 30 Jul 1967 LAT, which indicated that Blue would cost far more. The 23 Apr 1968 DV later listed Blue’s initial budget as $3 million, but stated that the final cost exceeded $5 million. The dual production was said to mark the first time that two separate Hollywood pictures were shot in conjunction with one another. Judd Bernard, who produced both, was quoted in LAT as saying, “Both pictures are either going to be great or be disaster areas. There will be no middle ground for either one.” However, while Blue received a theatrical release as planned, Fade In was shelved by Paramount. It was ultimately shown on television, making its debut on 8 Nov 1973 on the CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) network, as indicated by a 4 Nov 1973 NYT listing.
       The world premiere of Blue was scheduled to take place on 23 Apr 1968 at the Utah Theatre in Salt Lake City, UT, according to the 12 Apr 1968 DV. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was slated to perform at the event, which would celebrate the picture as the first-ever feature-length theatrical film to be shot entirely in Utah.
       A news brief in the 25 Apr 1968 DV stated that Johnny Mandel was originally hired to compose the score but was later replaced by Manos Hadjidakis.
       Blue marked the feature film acting debut of Peggy Lipton.