The Immortal Story (1968)
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90% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(576 ratings)
Immortal Story was directed by Orson Welles, who also stars as a fabulously wealthy, but bitter and dictatorial, European merchant. Soured on life, Mr. Clay (Welles) decides to play games with the lives of others. He decides to make the "immortal" legend of a sailor seducing a rich… More Immortal Story was directed by Orson Welles, who also stars as a fabulously wealthy, but bitter and dictatorial, European merchant. Soured on life, Mr. Clay (Welles) decides to play games with the lives of others. He decides to make the "immortal" legend of a sailor seducing a rich man's wife come true and even picks the sailor (Roger Coggio) himself. Through Mr. Clay's machinations, the sailor beds a beautiful younger woman (Jeanne Moreau) whom Clay pays to pose as his own wife. There's little more to the story than that, but Welles weaves his short tale with an economy and expertise which proves he hadn't lost his touch by 1969. Based on a story by Isaak Dinesen, The Immortal Story was originally made for French television; it was also the only Orson Welles-directed film to be released in color. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Orson Welles
- Genres
- Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- May 24, 1968 Wide
- Studio
- Criterion Collection
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Though shot for television on a low budget, this is a sumptuous experience.
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A.H. Weiler, New York Times
Its sad and bittersweet effects are slowly achieved in brooding, garrulous, overly introspective style, except by Jeanne Moreau.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It's awkward yet exquisite.
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Peter Galvin, sbs.com.au
The Immortal Story is, in part, concerned with the very nature of storytelling, something that Welles was fascinated with his whole life.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Shot on a smaller scale than Welles' other films, but it has all of Welles' hallmarks, including cavernous shots and startling angles.
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Cast
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Orson Welles
as Mr. Clay
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Jeanne Moreau
as Viginie Ducrot
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Roger Coggio
as Elishama Levinsky the bookkeeper
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Norman Eshley
as Paul the sailor
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Fernando Rey
as Merchant
