JohnHowardReid Copyright 23 September 1964 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. An American-French-Italian-German co-production of Les Films du Siecle/PECF/Dear Film/Deutsche Fox Film. Released worldwide through 20th Century-Fox. New York opening simultaneously at the Rivoli, the Murray Hill and other theaters: 21 October 1964. U.S. release: September 1964. U.K. release: First promised for 1964, then for 1965, then for 1966, but never generally released at all. Australian release: December 1964. Sydney opening at the Palace (yes, the Palace, a fortnightly-change, action grind-house, of all theaters). 9,010 feet. 100 minutes.SYNOPSIS: The woman reputed to be the richest in the world, Karla Zachanassian (Ingrid Bergman), announces that she is returning to the town of her birth, Guellen, for a visit. She has not seen the town since she left many years ago. The people of Guellen, a middle- sized town in an unidentified European country, rejoice at the news. The town is economically depressed, most of its population are out of work, and the people hope that Karla will offer financial aid. They all work feverishly to repair and refurbish the town. Particular excitement is focused on Serge Miller (Anthony Quinn), proprietor of the general store who was friendly with Karla when she was a girl. At the town's hotel, work is being supervised by the innkeeper and Anya (Irina Demick), a pretty young maid who is having an affair with Police Captain Dobrik (Hans-Christian Blech). When anticipation is at fever pitch, Karla arrives accompanied by a Rolls Royce, servants, bodyguards and her pet, a magnificent leopard with gold collar and chain. During a banquet that night, Karla shocks the townspeople by offering them two million dollars if they will execute Miller!NOTES: Duerrenmatt's play, "Der Besuch der alten Dame" opened in Zurich on 29 January 1956. Valency's translation opened on Broadway at the Lynn Fontanne Theatre on 5 May 1958. Peter Brook directed Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.COMMENT: All my colleagues agree on this one. Me too. Dreary direction. Principals woefully miscast. (In the original they are both very aged). All the bite taken out of the play. The conclusion changed. And a stupid sub-plot romance added.In a postscript to his play, Duerrenmatt wrote: "Nothing could harm this comedy with a tragic end more than heavy seriousness." Director Bernhard Wicki falls into that error, compounding it with a gimmicky screenplay. The eunuchs, the coffin, and much of the mordant wit are omitted, as is the wooden leg. The sex angle is fattened up with a juicy subplot... Sadder still, "The Visit" suffers from heroic miscasting. Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn work hard and seriously but to little purpose. The audience never really believes that the robust Quinn is an aging, frightened, sycophantic shop-keeper, or that Ingrid Bergman could be anything like as cruel as the script demands.

bkoganbing Watching The Visit I couldn't help but think of The Merry Widow which also has as its protagonist one of the wealthiest women in the world, citizen of a small Ruritanian eastern European principality where it is hoped that she will literally underwrite the country. But there will be no waltzes and romances in The Visit.The town of Gullen has hit some bad times and it looks a whole lot like one of the USA's rust belt cities. But the town is hoping that Ingrid Bergman who is a widow with Onassis like wealth will be the savior of the place. So she promises to be if they will do but one thing. Kill the man who abandoned her as a pregnant teen to marry up and is now a prosperous merchant, Anthony Quinn.For those who think of Bergman as a film saint like Joan Of Arc or Sister Mary Benedict you are in for a big surprise. Ingrid will knock your socks off with this vengeful woman who has the means to buy just about anything and uses said means to settle a score.Tony Quinn is also a revelation too. He's a victim in a Kafkaesque like drama where everything and everyone has turned on him. He doesn't usually play frightened, but he does here in The Visit and does it well. Check the scene at the railroad station.The original play by Swiss author Friedrich Duerrenmatt had a 189 performance run and was done on Broadway by Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne. I'm informed that the ending in the play is different but I think this ending is pretty powerful stuff in any event. Bergman makes it so.The Visit got an Oscar nomination for Costume Design in a black and white picture. But it's a lot more than costumes, it's powerful stuff, maybe the most powerful role Ingrid Bergman ever undertook.

Armand a play. great performances. nuances of acting as fireworks. bitter and clear and ambiguous atmosphere. two great actors in a fight about revenge, power and the force of past. a seductive story about a return who change life of community and defines options. Ingrid Bergman seems be the perfect choice for Clara. Anthony Quinn, far to give something real new, has a beautiful mixture of pride and humility, vulnerability as answer to profound cold fierce. a film who reminds moral laws and the lost of innocence behind the truth. a film who reminds the Old Testament episodes and who reminds the idea of justice in a special angle. a Durrenmatt - a lot of questions and the need of honesty for yourself. a special couple. and a beautiful film.

repetez I wouldn't want to cross that woman in a dark alley!! Loved it. Of course when Quinn's own wife appears in a new dress that she cant pay for until he is killed could be the best moment of the movie. Of course ..the entire movie is over-the-top...but thats what makes it hysterically fun to watch.