Trivia for
Fedora (1978) More at IMDbPro »

• The character and career of Fedora in the original Tom Tryon short story is based on elements from the lives and careers of Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Pola Negri, Olga Tschechowa, and Elfi von Dassanowsky. The Hungarian-accented director in the flashback is modeled after Michael Curtiz.
  
  
• Faye Dunaway was originally offered the role of Fedora, and Marlene Dietrich was asked to play Countess Sobryanski.
  
  
• Director Billy Wilder expected the actress that was cast as Fedora to play her both as a young and old woman. When Faye Dunaway passed on the part and Marthe Keller was cast as Fedora, Wilder was dismayed when the old age makeup prepared for the older Fedora (as Countess Sobryanski) aggravated a large scar on her forehead and caused so much pain that Wilder knew she couldn't act under those conditions. He was forced to cast an older actress for the old Fedora, and Hildegard Knef got the part. Wilder and Keller never established a good working relationship, with the result that her poor performance essentially ended her time as a Hollywood star.
  
  

Related Links