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Secret Ceremony

  • 19681968
  • RR
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Robert Mitchum, Elizabeth Taylor, and Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)
DramaThriller
A penniless woman meets a strange girl who insists she is her long-lost mother, and becomes enmeshed in a web of deception, and perhaps madness.A penniless woman meets a strange girl who insists she is her long-lost mother, and becomes enmeshed in a web of deception, and perhaps madness.A penniless woman meets a strange girl who insists she is her long-lost mother, and becomes enmeshed in a web of deception, and perhaps madness.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph Losey
  • Writers
    • Marco Denevi(short story "Ceremonia secreta")
    • George Tabori(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Elizabeth Taylor
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Mia Farrow
  • Director
    • Joseph Losey
  • Writers
    • Marco Denevi(short story "Ceremonia secreta")
    • George Tabori(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Elizabeth Taylor
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Mia Farrow
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 50User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos39

    Elizabeth Taylor and Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Elizabeth Taylor in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Robert Mitchum in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Elizabeth Taylor in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Elizabeth Taylor and Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Robert Mitchum and Elizabeth Taylor in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Elizabeth Taylor in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Elizabeth Taylor and Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Elizabeth Taylor in Secret Ceremony (1968)
    Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elizabeth Taylor
    Elizabeth Taylor
    • Leonora
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Albert
    Mia Farrow
    Mia Farrow
    • Cenci
    Peggy Ashcroft
    Peggy Ashcroft
    • Hannah
    Pamela Brown
    Pamela Brown
    • Hilda
    Robert Douglas
    Robert Douglas
    • Sir Alex Gordon
    • (uncredited)
    George Howell
    • First Cleaner
    • (uncredited)
    Penelope Keith
    Penelope Keith
    • Hotel Assistant
    • (uncredited)
    Roger Lloyd Pack
    Roger Lloyd Pack
    • Cleaner
    • (uncredited)
    Angus MacKay
    Angus MacKay
    • Vicar
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Strong
    Michael Strong
    • Dr. Walter Stevens
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joseph Losey
    • Writers
      • Marco Denevi(short story "Ceremonia secreta")
      • George Tabori(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When this movie aired on NBC several years later, it was not only heavily edited to sanitize some of the seamier sexual suggestions, but also included newly shot footage (none involving any of the actors or actresses who appeared in the actual movie: Michael Tolan, Paul Rogers), including a prologue and epilogue in which a psychiatrist character discussed the characters' failings and attempted to explain away the truncated movie's many plot holes. Amongst other major changes was the profession of Leonora Grabowski (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), who somehow morphed from a prostitute in the theatrical release to a wig model in the television version.

      Of the TV version, director Losey said: "not one person connected artistically with the film was consulted or involved in those changes. They're absurd...completely destroyed the rhythm, intention and content of the film...absolutely reversing the meaning of the film."
    • Goofs
      Moving shadow of the camera on the door-frame as it moves from Lenora's room to Cenci's room at the hotel in the Netherlands.
    • Quotes

      Leonora: They're just little boys that need to have their bottoms wiped.

    • Alternate versions
      Network TV version is eight minutes shorter than the theatrical release, removing some scenes and featuring alternative footage for others.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

    User reviews50

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A ghost of a mother
    I saw "the girl in the park" yesterday and although it featured Sigourney Weaver's moving performance ,I couldn't help but be struck by the similarities with Losey's forgotten movie: Sigourney Weaver was in search of a long lost daughter whereas Mia Farrow is in need of a mother.Farrow is impressive in her performance which was outstripped by the success of "Rosemary's baby" -in which she is terrific too-.As soon as we see her ,we feel how irrational she is.Her smiles,her gentleness ,her tenderness have something spooky.Ther's also an attic where the characters try to invent a brand new past for themselves.Liz Taylor and Robert Mitchum are as good as Farrow and the movie is one of Losey's sleepers,almost in the same league as his overlooked "Monsieur Klein" (another case of mistaken identity)
    helpful•2
    0
    • dbdumonteil
    • Nov 18, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 23, 1968 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Frau aus dem Nichts
    • Filming locations
      • Debenham House, Addison Road, Holland Park, London, England, UK(Lenora & Cenci go to this house at No. 8 after the cemetery - aka Peacock House)
    • Production company
      • World Film Services
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $580
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Robert Mitchum, Elizabeth Taylor, and Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)
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    By what name was Secret Ceremony (1968) officially released in Canada in English?
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