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Tell Me a Riddle

  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
204
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tell Me a Riddle (1980)
  • Drama
Touching story of elderly couple David and Eva who go on one last journey across the USA when they discover Eva is dying, ending up with their granddaughter Jeannie in San Francisco.Touching story of elderly couple David and Eva who go on one last journey across the USA when they discover Eva is dying, ending up with their granddaughter Jeannie in San Francisco.Touching story of elderly couple David and Eva who go on one last journey across the USA when they discover Eva is dying, ending up with their granddaughter Jeannie in San Francisco.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
204
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lee Grant
  • Writers
    • Joyce Eliason
    • Alev Lytle
    • Tillie Olsen(story)
  • Stars
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Lila Kedrova
    • Brooke Adams
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lee Grant
  • Writers
    • Joyce Eliason
    • Alev Lytle
    • Tillie Olsen(story)
  • Stars
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Lila Kedrova
    • Brooke Adams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 29
    Video 28:23
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 29

    Photos7

    Tell Me a Riddle (1980)
    Brooke Adams and Lila Kedrova in Tell Me a Riddle (1980)
    Lila Kedrova in Tell Me a Riddle (1980)
    Melvyn Douglas and Lila Kedrova in Tell Me a Riddle (1980)
    Lila Kedrova in Tell Me a Riddle (1980)
    Brooke Adams, Melvyn Douglas, and Lila Kedrova in Tell Me a Riddle (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • Davidas David
    Lila Kedrova
    Lila Kedrova
    • Evaas Eva
    Brooke Adams
    Brooke Adams
    • Jeannieas Jeannie
    Dolores Dorn
    Dolores Dorn
    • Vivias Vivi
    Bob Elross
    • Sammyas Sammy
    Jon Harris
    • Mathewas Mathew
    Zalman King
    Zalman King
    • Paulas Paul
    Winifred Mann
    • Hannahas Hannah
    Peter Owens
    • Philas Phil
    Deborah Sussel
    • Nancyas Nancy
    Lili Valenty
    • Mrs. Maysas Mrs. Mays
    Nora Heflin
    • Young Evaas Young Eva
    Peter Coyote
    Peter Coyote
    • Young Davidas Young David
    Nora Bendich
    • Lisaas Lisa
    Robert Behling
    • Timas Tim
    Peter Berg
    • Man On Street Corneras Man On Street Corner
    Joy Bianchi
    • Annas Ann
    Ralph Chesse
    • Jacobas Jacob
    • Director
      • Lee Grant
    • Writers
      • Joyce Eliason
      • Alev Lytle
      • Tillie Olsen(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tillie Olsen's short story "Tell Me a Riddle" was awarded the O. Henry Award for best short story of 1961 after it was published in "New World Writing" Issue no. 16.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Windwalker, Tell Me A Riddle, Friday the 13th Part 2, Lion of the Desert (1981)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Kedrova is magnificent!
    Lila Kedrova is stupendous in as magnificent a performance as I have ever seen an elderly actress give on the screen. Douglas and Adams are also terrific as Kedrova's husband and estranged daughter respectively, but it is Kedrova who elevates this last-journey-before-I-die soaper far above its roots. The pacing is a tad slow, but the terrific photography, sensitive score, and magnificent performances more than make up for any shortcomings.

    Warning, the first time I saw it, the male friend who was with me hated it, and wanted to walk out. When I recently re-watched it off cable, a male colleague called it "incredibly boring." Since I and every other woman I know who saw it loved it, I conclude that most men I know don't really get the subtleties of what was truly going on. Because Lila's relationships with her husband and daughter are reflected against the prism of her life, the director's artistic brilliance needs to be absorbed rather than spoon-fed. So my advice to other women is to see this one alone or with another woman. Otherwise, you may find yourself constantly being nagged to put on something with some action in it.

    That being said, this is a terrific and sensitive movie. Enjoy it.
    helpful•10
    3
    • aromatic-2
    • Oct 8, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 12, 1982 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Berätta din gåta
    • Filming locations
      • Marin County, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Godmother Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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