The Immortal Story (1968)

November 25, 2024 12:13 PM

An aged, wealthy trader (Orson Welles) is frustrated to find a story he has long believed turns out to be a maritime tall tale. Plotting with his bookkeeper (Roger Coggio), he attempts to make the story true, using a local woman (Jeanne Moreau) and an unknown sailor (Norman Eshley) as actors.

Directed by Orson Welles. Screenplay by Louise de Vilmorin, Orson Welles. Based on the short story "The Immortal Story" by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen). Produced by Micheline Rozan. Cinematography Willy Kurant. Edited by Claude Farny, Françoise Garnault, Yolande Maurette, Marcelle Pluet. Intended as half of a Dinesen anthology film. The other section, to be based on "The Deluge at Nordenay" was never completed.

92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on Criterion. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (1 comment total)

This is very Welles-ian, even in color, and even with (sort of) a sex scene. Very elegiac, very sad, very much embodying and living in the feel of a Dinesen story. If I say it feels a little off-the-cuff compared to his other work, please understand that his other work being what it is, that leaves plenty of room for this to be pretty good.

He did well with Moreau and Eshley who are both haunted and haunting. Coggio is also terrific, conveying the sort of weary old world Jewish character that Welles loves in a 100% sincere, respectful (and not at all anti-semitic or satirical) way.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:55 AM on November 26