The Fan (1981)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Edward 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 | Stalking | Murder | Woman In Jeopardy

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:

A REMARKABLE WOMAN

Good acting, great cast, terrible film

A stalker (Michael Biehn) turns violent when a Broadway actress (Lauren Bacall) spurns him.

Based on a very good novel this is basically another slice'n'dice horror film. It's better acted then most--Biehn, Bacall and Maureen Stapleton give in very good performances (especially Biehn) and the film was originally supposed to just concentrate on Biehn's obsession and the killings were supposed to be bloodless. But (according to magazine articles at the time) "Friday the 13th" came out at the time "The Fan" started production and "Friday..." was a HUGE hit. So, they added blood and violence to the film figuring that was what made "Friday..." such a big hit. Bacall was shocked by the violence and refused to promote the film. Biehn (in an interview) said everybody hated each other and he was forced to promote the movie and perform in the gore scenes. Because of that, he didn't work for 2 years. Just another example of what might have been a very good psychological thriller turned into a gore movie.

To be totally truthful, the murders and attacks aren't THAT bad and the good acting helped keep interest, but I totally gave up on the film with a VERY homophobic scene where a gay man is brutally murdered while...um..."pleasuring" Biehn (although in defense of the movie it was much worse in the book).

It all ends up in a horrible sequence in which Bacall goes one-on-one with Biehn. Seeing such a wonderful actress as Bacall being attacked by Biehn is trully appalling. Also they changed the ending of the book (which had a MUCH better ending). And James Garner is shamefully wasted.

All in all, the good acting and a few good sequences ALMOST make this worth watching. ALMOST.