Fedora (1978)

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

Writers:

Billy Wilder (screenplay), I.A.L. Diamond (screenplay)

Stars:

William Holden, Marthe Keller, Hildegard Knef

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Holden	...	Barry Detweiler
Marthe Keller	...	Fedora
Hildegard Knef	...	The Countess
José Ferrer	...	Doctor Vando
Frances Sternhagen	...	Miss Balfour
Mario Adorf	...	Hotel Manager
Stephen Collins	...	Young Barry
Henry Fonda	...	President of the Academy
Michael York	...	Self (as Micheal York)
Hans Jaray	...	Count Sobryanski
Gottfried John	...	Kritos
Arlene Francis	...	Newscaster
Jacques Maury	...	Head Usher
Christine Mueller	...	Young Antonia
Ellen Schwiers	...	Nurse

Storyline

Down-on-his-luck Hollywood producer Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler attempts to lure Fedora, a famous but reclusive film actress, out of retirement.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | character name as title | reference to harry s. truman | hollywood | plastic surgeon | 

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Taglines:

Youth had been a habit of hers for so long that she could not part with it.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

After finishing this film, Billy Wilder would direct only one more picture; the poorly received Buddy Buddy (1981) starting Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.

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Goofs

In the 2013 restoration, Stephen Collins is credited as playing "Young Berry," not "Young Barry," and Michael York is "Micheal."

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Quotes

Barry Detweiler: I guess no gentleman would bring up an old affair. But then, I'm no gentleman.

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Connections

References The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

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Soundtracks

Badner Madln
(uncredited)
Music by Karl Komzák
Arranged by Miklós Rózsa

User Reviews

Unjustly overlooked

It puzzles me why this film appears to have been so forgotten and neglected because I find it richly entertaining and, like so much of Wilder's work, it shows an abiding, (although not uncritical), love / hate of Hollywood and all it represented. Wilder has no illusions about the Monster Hollywood could be in its heyday when it created an almost parallel universe which consisted of those on the inside the industry, and the rest of us who paid homage at the box-office. Both parties were almost entirely oblivious of the reality of life as experienced by each other.

FEDORA is much more bitter-sweet than SUNSET BLVD., (his other film with which it is natural to compare it, and of course the presence of William Holden in both makes this even more compelling), but here we see people who, having made a pact with the devil of Hollywood fame and fortune, find it is a two edged sword that keeps them in the service of its mores and values forever, even though the effort of doing so nearly makes them die from exhaustion. Death or permanent seclusion is the only way to preserve a legend's immortality.

Beautifully structured, and with some excellent dialogue, all the cast acquit themselves with credit, and I find it a fascinating and valuable glimpse into a world that has now gone forever and which is never, ever likely to return. Perhaps more reflective and introspective than we expect a Billy Wilder film to be, but all the more richly satisfying for it. Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

France West Germany

Language:

English Greek French

Release Date:

13 September 1978 (France)

Also Known As:

Fedora

Filming Locations:

Musée Jacquemart-André - 158 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$6,727,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bavaria Atelier, Lorimar, NF Geria Filmgesellshaft GmbH

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1