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IMDbPro

Obsession

  • 1976
  • PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Obsession (1976)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
55 Photos
DramaMysteryThriller

A wealthy New Orleans businessman becomes obsessed with a young woman who resembles his wife.A wealthy New Orleans businessman becomes obsessed with a young woman who resembles his wife.A wealthy New Orleans businessman becomes obsessed with a young woman who resembles his wife.

  • Director
    • Brian De Palma
  • Writers
    • Brian De Palma
    • Paul Schrader
  • Stars
    • Cliff Robertson
    • Geneviève Bujold
    • John Lithgow
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Brian De Palma
    • Writers
      • Brian De Palma
      • Paul Schrader
    • Stars
      • Cliff Robertson
      • Geneviève Bujold
      • John Lithgow
    • 87User reviews
    • 91Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:36
    Watch Trailer

    Photos55

    Geneviève Bujold in Obsession (1976)
    Cliff Robertson in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold, Wanda Blackman, and Cliff Robertson in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold, Wanda Blackman, and Cliff Robertson in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold and Wanda Blackman in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold and Cliff Robertson in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold in Obsession (1976)
    John Lithgow in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold in Obsession (1976)
    Cliff Robertson in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold in Obsession (1976)
    Geneviève Bujold in Obsession (1976)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cliff Robertson
    Cliff Robertson
    • Michael Courtland
    Geneviève Bujold
    Geneviève Bujold
    • Elizabeth Courtland…
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Robert La Salle
    Sylvia Kuumba Williams
    • Judy
    • (as Sylvia 'Kuumba' Williams)
    Wanda Blackman
    • Amy Courtland
    J. Patrick McNamara
    J. Patrick McNamara
    • Third Kidnapper
    • (as Patrick McNamara)
    Stanley J. Reyes
    • Insp. Brie
    Nick Krieger
    • Farber
    Stocker Fontelieu
    • Dr. Ellman
    Don Hood
    Don Hood
    • Ferguson
    Andrea Esterhazy
    Andrea Esterhazy
    • D'Annunzio
    Thomas Carr
    • Paper Boy
    Tom Felleghy
    • Italian Businessman
    Nella Simoncini Barbieri
    • Mrs. Portinari
    John Creamer
    • Justice of the Peace
    Regis Cordic
    Regis Cordic
    • Newscaster
    Loraine Despres
    Loraine Despres
    • Jane
    Clyde Ventura
    • Ticket Agent
    • Director
      • Brian De Palma
    • Writers
      • Brian De Palma(story by)
      • Paul Schrader(story by) (screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Composer Bernard Herrmann became infatuated with Geneviève Bujold after seeing her performance in an early cut of "Obsession". His feelings were heightened by Bujold's surprise visit to the soundtrack recording sessions in London in July 1975, the only time the two met in person. Herrmann's friend Charles Gerhardt recalled, "As she spoke to Benny in a heavy French accent I could tell he was about to get the hanky out. She told him of all the trouble she'd had with Cliff Robertson because he spent all his time in makeup and didn't make their love scenes meaningful. She said, 'Mr. Herrmann, he wouldn't make love to me - but you made love to me with your music'. And Benny started to cry. He would tell that story over and over at dinner, and start crying again every time". After Herrmann's death five months later, his widow found a photo of Bujold in his wallet.
    • Goofs
      With exception of old cars, nothing in flashbacks to 1959 (hair, clothes, etc.) to remotely indicate that scenes weren't set in mid Seventies.
    • Quotes

      Robert Lasalle: [Michael has pointed out Sandra to him] Oh my God...

    • Crazy credits
      The film has no end credits, other than the words "The End" in the final frame.
    • Connections
      Featured in 'Obsession' Revisited (2001)

    User reviews87

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Déjà vu and Déjà vu.
    Obsession is directed by Brian De Palma and written by Paul Schrader. It stars Cliff Robertson, Genevieve Bujold and John Lithgow. Music is by Bernard Herrmann and cinematography by Vismos Zsigmond.

    You either love him or hate him, it seems. Brian De Palma that is. He's an amazing stylist who made some piercingly great thrillers in the tradition of Maestro Hitchcock, or he's a knock off artist using style to hide his inadequacies as a story teller? One thing for sure, for a good portion of the 70s and 80s his films would not be ignored, for better or worse depending on your own proclivities of course.

    Obsession, as has been noted numerous times, is De Palma's homage to Hitchcock's masterpiece, Vertigo. It's not a straight out copy as some reviewers have somehow managed to convince themselves, but narrative drive is similar. Robertson in grief for a passed on wife (Bujold) and daughter meets a doppelganger (also Bujold) of his dead wife 16 years down the line and becomes obsessed with her. As the new woman reciprocates the attraction, the relationship becomes wrought and borderline unhealthy, reaching a crescendo when muddy waters are stirred and revelations force the can to open and worms to spill everywhere.

    When remembering that for a long time Vertigo was out of circulation in the 70s, Obsession was sure as hell a good second option for anyone hankering for a superbly stylish thriller boiling over with psychological smarts. Even if you buy into the style over substance argument, what style there is here though. Roving camera work, up tilts, haze surrounds, canted frames, pan arounds, dream shimmers and personalised focus. Add in the splendid use of New Orleans and Tuscany locations and Herrmann's sensually dangerous score (lifted in part and re-worked from Vertigo) and it has style to burn. While the big reveals at pic's culmination are in turn intriguing and daring; even if the original ending planned would have really put the cat among the pigeons and made for a more potent piece ripe for heated discussion.

    Lead cast are on fine form, Robertson plays it superbly as a wistful and damaged wastrel, guilt and obsession seeping from every pore. Bujold is just darling, a telling twin performance that actually doesn't demand to be noticed until late in the play. While Lithgow stomps around the edges of the frame like some shyster lawyer whose tie is on too tight. Ultimately Obsession is a film crafted in the mode of Hitchcock, but not in anyway disgracefully so. This is no illegitimate relation to Vertigo, it's more like a reliable brother-in-law. Pulpy, Trashy but also Classy. Great. 8/10
    helpful•19
    8
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Feb 12, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 1976 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Deja Vu
    • Filming locations
      • Pontchartrain Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Yellowbird Productions
      • George Litto Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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