The Fan (1981)

Director:

Ed Bianchi

Writers:

Bob Randall (novel)
Priscilla Chapman (writer) ...

Release Date:

15 May 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The final act is murder.

Plot:

A record salesman is an obsessed fan of an actress of stage and screen (Lauren Bacall). However when his letters are rejected, the fan strikes out at the actresses friends, then at her.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Obsessed Fan | Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship | Theatre | Price Of Fame

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lauren Bacall	...	Sally Ross
James Garner	...	Jake Berman
Maureen Stapleton	...	Belle Goldman
Hector Elizondo	...	Police Inspector Raphael Andrews
Michael Biehn	...	Douglas Breen
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Emily Stolz
Kurt Johnson	...	David Branum
Feiga Martinez	...	Elsa
Reed Jones	...	Choreographer
Kaiulani Lee	...	Douglas' Sister
Charles Blackwell	...	John Vetta
Dwight Schultz	...	Director
Dana Delany	...	Saleswoman in Record Store
Terence Marinan	...	Young Man in Bar
Lesley Rogers	...	Heidi

Also Known As:

Trance (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1981) | Australia:R | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The film was originally intended as a straightforward thriller starring Elizabeth Taylor and directed by Jeff Lieberman. However the project was delayed and both left the picture.

Quotes:

Jake: Oh come on babe, whats the matter?
Sally Ross: What's the matter? I've got a show to do in five days, the lighting man appears to be learning on the set, my secertary has been attacked, David is dead, and oh yes their is some fruit cake out there who want's to kill me. Now to satisfy you more will you please get the hell out of here!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Cast in Steele (#3.9)" (1984)

Soundtrack:

HEARTS, NOT DIAMONDS

Fine Thriller, And Bacall Unfairly Criticized

I thought this film was much better than the critics made it out to be at the time. I found it to be an interesting character study of an obsessed fan, played by Michael Biehn. He was a new actor at the time and a total unknown, which helped in this role. He went to star in "The Terminator" and has had a decent career. The other co-star....well, you might have heard of her: Lauren Bacall.

I read a lot of criticism of Bacall for this role, and think it is totally unjustified. She was just fine, thank you, playing a believable character: a veteran actress being talked by some deranged killer.

With Maureen Stapleton, James Garner, Hector Elizondo, some great cinematography with wonderful close-up shots and a good score, what's not to like? It was a good thriller and deserves better ratings.