When I saw the Film Forum was going to be showing Billy Wilder's neglected 1978 film, "Fedora," a wave of familiarity rushed through me. Then I remembered.
Back in 1971, when his best-selling classic "The Other" made ex-actor Thomas Tryon the wrtter of the day, for a time, he wrote a collection of four novellas about vanished Hollywood called "Crowned Heads." I recall reading it at the time, but regret I do not own the book now, as, after seeing this film, I would like to revisit it. "Fedora" was the first novella in the work; one other, I recall, involved an ex-child star; another was supposedly based on the relationship between Clifton Webb and his mother, while another was supposedly modeled after the murder of silent screen star Ramon Novarro.
"Fedora' came and went as a movie so fast, in its day, that I, still living in Jersey back then, hadn't a chance to see it. Do you think it even came near Jersey????????? Are you kidding???????????
With the combined forces of Billy Wilder, his writing partner, I.A.L. Diamond and actor William Holden, it is easy to think of "Fedora" as just another riff on "Sunset Boulevard," which it is, to an extent. Because of this, it is easy to think, as I mistakenly did for a long time, that Gloria Swanson, who was still alive, in 1978, was in this, but she is not.
Yes, it is a take on the earlier 1950 Wilder classic. But, having sprung from the pen of Thomas Tryon, it also plays into the themes of alternate selves and twisted secrets that made "The Other" so arresting. Is it as good as "The Other?" No, but "Fedora" is a much better film than it was credited at its time, and, in comparison to the junk made today, it seems better now.
Though it runs 114 minutes, it seems too long, as it is really two flashback stories. The first involves William Holden, as film producer Barry "Dutch" Detweiler, and his trip to Corfu, off the coast of Greece, where he hopes to gain an audience with Fedora, and recruit her for his latest project--
a reworking of "Anna Karenina," called "The Snows Of Yesteryear!" Imagine--two authors--Tolstoy and Hemingway--ripped off, with just one title!!!!!!!!!!! The second involves Marthe Keller's character, and what leads up to the opening shot which is she throwing herself, like Anna Karenina, into the path of an onrushing train. The way this is shot will haunt viewers for some time.
The horror of who Fedora is, and the ruination of a life in the name of perpetuating a myth are brilliantly probed to create a disturbing portrait of Hollywood vanity, at its worst. There are references to Garbo, Dietrich....and one that I have to share, which I am not sure was not in the Tryon novella, but which Wilder, Diamond and the script girl did not get right.
There is a scene where Fedora is musing on film roles for which she was Oscar nominated, and should have won. She mentions "Madame Bovary" in 1935 (pure fiction, since it was not filmed till 1949, with Jennifer Jones!!!!), but then Jose Ferrer, as the mysterious "Doctor Vando, mentions her role, in 1947, where she played "that nun who gets tuberculosis." At this, I sat up in my seat!!!!!!!!!!!
What else could this be, darlings, but a veiled reference to "The Song Of Bernadette?" Which was made in 1943; oh, my God, you'd think someone could have gotten THAT right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I urge my girls to see "Fedora" an ode to the film past it portrays, and the Seventies one of our youth. And talk about irony--seeing this in the wake of Joan Rivers' passing!!!!!!!!!
Who knows? It might have inspired Cher's classic hit, "If I Could Turn Back Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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