Fedora Movie Review

 FEDORA sheds light on a pivotal point in Hollywood’s past. Can Hollywood accurately portray itself and the problems behind the silver screen? A star-studded cast in Helmutt Idell’s Fedora seeks to answer this quest. Lead by William Holden playing an aging producer: Dutch who travels to Corfu to coax the legendary Fedora, cast as Marthe Keller, out of retirement. After several attempts Dutch gains an audience first with the aged Countess, played by Hildegard Knef and in a reminiscence on the golden era of Hollywood remarks, “they sold off the back lot” and “it’s not the same, kids with beards are running it all now”. His audience with Fedora ends in an emotional breakdown, which we learn was caused by an obsession for Michael York, who played a cameo role as himself in Fedora’s last comeback film.

Dutch’s repeated attempts to court Fedora back into the business cause her to be whisked off to Paris where she commits suicide by throwing herself in front of a speeding train, which is actually the film’s first scene. It is here at the beginning we learn of her demise and as Dutch recounts the last two weeks, “maybe if I hadn’t gone to Corfu she’d still be alive”. This circular plot holds the audience in constant suspense, routing for the completion of Dutch’s quest. In the final scene Dutch accuses the Countess of killing Fedora when she comes clean with the truth which will put a huge twist on the audience's view of this mystery thriller.

MOVIE REVIEW

FEDORA Directed by Helmutt Idell, a Warner Bros film. Starring William Holden, Marthe Keller,

Hildegard Knef, Michael York and Henry Fonda. Available on home video from ScareCrow Video Store. Rated PG. Grade A+, classic film must see.