Fedora (1978) 6.9
Down-on-his-luck Hollywood producer Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler attempts to lure Fedora, a famous but reclusive film actress out of retirement. Director:Billy Wilder |
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Fedora (1978) 6.9
Down-on-his-luck Hollywood producer Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler attempts to lure Fedora, a famous but reclusive film actress out of retirement. Director:Billy Wilder |
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| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| William Holden | ... | ||
| Marthe Keller | ... | ||
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Hildegard Knef | ... | |
| José Ferrer | ... |
Doctor Vando
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| Frances Sternhagen | ... |
Miss Balfour
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Mario Adorf | ... |
Corfu Hotel Manager
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| Stephen Collins | ... |
Young Barry
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| Henry Fonda | ... |
Himself - President of the Academy
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| Michael York | ... |
Himself
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Hans Jaray | ... |
Count Sobryanski
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| Gottfried John | ... |
Kritos
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| Arlene Francis | ... |
Newscaster
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Jacques Maury | ... |
Head Usher
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Christine Mueller | ... |
Young Antonia
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Ellen Schwiers | ... |
Nurse
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The former successful and famous Polish actress Fedora commits suicide at the Mortcerf Station, jumping off in front of a train. The broken Hollywood producer Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler attends the funeral at her house in Paris and recalls that he might have caused her death. Two weeks ago, Dutch traveled to Greece Island of Corfu seeking Fedora out in the Vila Calypso, located in an isolated island owned by the bitter Countess Sobryanski. Fedora has been living an unsocial reclusive life for the last years in the villa with the countess, the plastic surgeon Doctor Vando and her assistant Miss Balfour, since she abandoned the set of a film that she was shooting in London with Michael York. Dutch brings the screenplay with a version of "Anna Karenina" to offer to Fedora, with the promise that investors would finance the film if Fedora accepts the lead role. Fedora, who is impressively young, is receptive to the offer, but the countess and the doctor tell that she is mentally unstable and ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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.