Isadora (1968)

Director:

Karel Reisz

Writers:

Melvyn Bragg (adaptation)
Melvyn Bragg (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

22 August 1969 (Finland)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

The Life and Many Loves of the Most Exciting Woman of Our Time

Plot:

A biography of the dancer Isadora Duncan, the 1920s dancer who forever changed people's ideas of ballet...

Plot Keywords:

Dancer | Dance | Ballet | 1920s | Debt

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Vanessa Redgrave	...	Isadora Duncan
John Fraser	...	Roger
James Fox	...	Gordon Craig
Jason Robards	...	Singer
Zvonimir Crnko	...	Essenin (as Ivan Tchenko)
Vladimir Leskovar	...	Bugatti
Cynthia Harris	...	Mary Desti
Bessie Love	...	Mrs. Duncan
Tony Vogel	...	Raymond Duncan
Libby Glenn	...	Elizabeth Duncan
Ronnie Gilbert	...	Miss Chase
Wallas Eaton	...	Archer
Nicholas Pennell	...	Bedford
John Quentin	...	Pim
Christian Duvaleix	...	Armand - a feeble pianist in love with Isadora
David Healy	...	Chicago Theatre Manager
Lucinda Chambers	...	Deirdre
Simon Lutton Davies	...	Patrick
Noel Davis	...	Doctor
Ina De La Haye	...	Russian Teacher
Constantine Yranski	...	Russian Companion
Stefan Gryff	...	Russian Party Interpreter
John Brandon	...	Gospel Billy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Ayres	...	(uncredited)
Stephanie Connell	...	Dance Pupil (uncredited)
Jan Conrad	...	(uncredited)
Margaret Courtenay	...	Raucous Woman (uncredited)
Arnold Diamond	...	(uncredited)
Mark Dignam	...	(uncredited)
Hal Galili	...	(uncredited)
Anthony Gardner	...	(uncredited)
Alan Gifford	...	Tour Manager (uncredited)
Dolores Judson	...	Colonel's Wife (uncredited)
Nigel Kingsley	...	Extra (uncredited)
Robin Lloyd	...	(uncredited)
Richard Marner	...	(uncredited)
Cal McCord	...	(uncredited)
Terence Mountain	...	American Cop (uncredited)
Zuleika Robson	...	(uncredited)
Lucy Saroyan	...	(uncredited)
Roy Stephens	...	(uncredited)
Iza Teller	...	Alicia (uncredited)
Sally Travers	...	(uncredited)
John Warner	...	Mr. Stirling (uncredited)
Arthur White	...	Hearty Husband (uncredited)

Directed by
Karel Reisz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Melvyn Bragg		adaptation
Melvyn Bragg		screenplay
Margaret Drabble		additional dialogue
Isadora Duncan		book "My Life"
Clive Exton		screenplay
Sewell Stokes		book "Isadora Duncan an Intimate Portrait"

Produced by
Raymond Hakim	....	producer
Robert Hakim	....	producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Larry Pizer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Priestley

Casting by
Miriam Brickman

Production Design by
Jocelyn Herbert

Art Direction by
Zeljko Senecic		(as Miso Senecic)
Michael Seymour

Makeup Department
Olga Angelinetta	....	hair stylist
Biddy Chrystal	....	hair stylist
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup chief

Production Management
Roy Parkinson	....	production supervisor
Eric Rattray	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adrian Hughes	....	assistant director
Grania O'Shannon	....	assistant director
Claude Watson	....	assistant director

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	construction manager
Harry Cordwell	....	set dresser
Bryan Graves	....	set dresser
Roger King	....	assistant art director
Ian Whittaker	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Maurice Askew	....	sound
Jim Atkinson	....	dialogue editor
Terry Rawlings	....	sound editor
Ken Ritchie	....	sound
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dennis C. Lewiston	....	camera operator (as Denis Lewiston)
Ron Pearce	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Breed	....	wardrobe (as Jackie Breed)
John Briggs	....	wardrobe
Ruth Myers	....	wardrobe
Rita Rumbelow	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Philip Baker	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Anthony Bowles	....	composer: additional music, dance sequences and period dance
Anthony Bowles	....	conductor: classical and dance music
Anthony Bowles	....	music arranger: classical and dance music
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor

Other crew
Henri Baum	....	production representative: Yugoslavia, Italy and France
Jean Hall	....	production secretary
Litz Pisk	....	choreographer
Branko Plesa	....	advisor: Russia
Ann Skinner	....	continuity
Barney Wan	....	titles
Zelda Barron	....	continuity (uncredited)
George Davis	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hakim
• Paris Film
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• MCA Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• Universal (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• Odeon Entertainment (2011) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Jadran Film  technical services
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

"The Loves of Isadora" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

131 min | 153 min (director's cut) | 168 min (original release) | Canada:144 min (Ontario)

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK

Company:

Hakim

Trivia:

Last film of Robert Ayres.

Quotes:

Isadora Duncan:[about America] You were once wild here. Don't let them tame you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Harry and Tonto (1974)

Soundtrack:

Brahms 1st Symphony

View the original version.

There are several versions of this film. The original is rather long, but well worth the time spent viewing it. The subsequent edited versions -- even the so-called "director's cut" -- omit small but crucial events in Isadora's life, without which it becomes more difficult to understand how Isadora sublimated her angst into her art.