Fedora (1978)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Tom Tryon (story)
Billy Wilder (writer) ...

Release Date:

29 June 1978 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Hollywood producer Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler attempts to lure Fedora, a famous but reclusive film actress out of retirement.

Plot Keywords:

Film Making | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

William Holden	...	Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler
Marthe Keller	...	Fedora / Antonia Sobryanski
Hildegard Knef	...	Countess Fedora Sobryanski
José Ferrer	...	Doctor Vando
Frances Sternhagen	...	Miss Balfour
Mario Adorf	...	Corfu Hotel Manager
Stephen Collins	...	Young Barry
Henry Fonda	...	President of the Academy
Michael York	...	Himself
Hans Jaray	...	Count Sobryanski
Gottfried John	...	Kritos
Arlene Francis	...	Newscaster
Jacques Maury	...	Head Usher
Christine Mueller	...	Young Antonia
Ellen Schwiers	...	Nurse

Also Known As:

Fedora (West Germany)

Runtime:

Spain:116 min | Sweden:114 min | USA:114 min

Country:

France | West Germany

Language:

English | Greek | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Hungary:14 | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Corfu, Greece

Company:

Bavaria Atelier

Trivia:

The character and career of Fedora in the original Tom Tryon short story is based on elements from the lives and careers of Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Pola Negri, Olga Tschechowa, and Elfi von Dassanowsky. The Hungarian-accented director in the flashback is modeled after Michael Curtiz.

Quotes:

Doctor Vando: [disbelieving] Jean Sibelius tacky?!?

Movie Connections:

References The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Mesmerising and Historically Valuable

I wish to defend Fedora somewhat from the sole previous IMDB reviewer. It is not a great movie such as "Sunset Boulevard" but it is hugely enjoyable and a real treat for anyone interested in old Hollywood, and the bitter-sweet quality of fading glamour.

Since the death of Marlene Dietrich, and especially with the publication of a biography by her daughter Maria Riva, it is now clear that Fedora is a direct portrait of Ms. Dietrich with much telling accurate detail.

Billy Wilder knew Dietrich and old Hollywood well, and even though made in the 70's, the film captures a genuine essence probably for the last time as figures from the golden age of film have since then moved into retirement and sadly largely slipped the mortal coil.

The real story of the EXTRAORDINARY Ms. Dietrich is better than any of her movies, and Fedora tells some of that story. It makes for more comfortable viewing than Maximillian Schell's documentary "Marlene".

Wilder is an intelligent director, which makes "Fedora" worthwhile viewing. I have always found "Sunset Boulevard" a little too arch and self-consciously aware; "Fedora" is a more lyrical piece by the director as an older man.