Julia (1977)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Lillian Hellman (novel)
Alvin Sargent (writer)

Release Date:

20 January 1978 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The story of two women whose friendship suddenly became a matter of life and death.

Plot:

At the behest of an old and dear friend, playwright Lillian Hellman undertakes a dangerous mission to smuggle funds into Nazi Germany.

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Writer | 1930s | Hat | Railway Station

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Jane Fonda	...	Lillian Hellman
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Julia
Jason Robards	...	Dashiell Hammett
Maximilian Schell	...	Johann
Hal Holbrook	...	Alan Campbell
Rosemary Murphy	...	Dorothy Parker
Meryl Streep	...	Anne Marie
Dora Doll	...	Woman Passenger
Elisabeth Mortensen	...	Girl Passenger
John Glover	...	Sammy
Lisa Pelikan	...	Julia (younger)
Susan Jones	...	Lillian (younger)
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Grandmother
Maurice Denham	...	Undertaker
Mark Metcalf	...	Pratt

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Indonesia:Dewasa | Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Central Station, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Early on, director Fred Zinnemann actually considered casting Meryl Streep in the title role. However, as Streep was almost totally unknown as an actress - she had only one play to her credit, and never appeared in a film - Zinnemann decided to cast Vanessa Redgrave instead.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During a sailing shot, as the boat containing Julia and Lilian tracks away from the camera, the gunnel of the boat containing the camera crew is clearly visible for an instant in the lower left of the frame.

Quotes:

Johann: If you cannot do it, do not do it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Searching for Debra Winger (2002)

Redgrave shines in "Julia," despite controversy

Most remarkable, to me, about "Julia" is the understated acting of Vanessa Redgrave. For the amount of time she's on the screen, one would not assume her to be worthy of an Academy Award nomination, let alone the Oscar itself (1977, Best Supporting Actress). But there is something about that marvelous, tension-filled scene in the Berlin restaurant that comes across as nothing short of superior. Much the same can be said of Jason Robards as Dashiell Hammett, i.e. understated and short, and he, too, got the equivalent Oscar, rightfully outpointing co-star Maximillian Schell. What I had supposed would be a "chick flick" faux-biopic turned out to be a gripping drama on the highest order worth four stars from me.