The Visit (1964)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Good movie but grossly overrated

A Masterpiece!

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

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.

I'm ashamed I've never seen this film till now. I've always known "of" it, as I've always known "of" the play, and "of" Friedrich Dürrenmatt's controversial take on "epic theater." So its allegorical aspects don't put me off at all. It's amazing to see how realistically and cinematically this play is filmed and acted.Co-Produced by Anthony Quinn and Ingrid Bergman, who co-star, this entire enterprise is a work of love and art: not commercial entertainment.And what a payoff! The suspense, the emotional builds, are incredible. Yes, you can see the act breaks that were in the play. No matter. The film surges along seamlessly to the unexpected and shattering climax.And the acting, from the entire cast, but especially Quinn and Bergman, is something to behold.The conclusion cuts like a knife.Watch it again and again for the layers in Bergman's performance. The transitions in her close-ups alone are astonishing.

"The Visit" (1964) the main characters were teen lovers Karla Zachanassian (Ingrid Bergman) & Serge Miller (Anthony Quinn). It's set in a foreign city made up of mean-spirited citizens. 17 year old Karla is taken advantage off by Serge & ends up pregnant. Her parents are deceased & there is no one for her to turn to. Serge will not take responsibility for his actions & bribes others to lie about her. Since Karla was well-hated the people chased her out of town & into prostitution. Her baby was taken from her & dies young.As the film moves on we begin to observe the cruelty that Karla & the citizens carry to gain the goodies she offers & 2,000,000 in cash to help the town & hasten Serge's death. At first the town's leaders fight the idea. Later all they can see is the cash...the prosperity to hold in their hands. This movie will truly open your eyes on the Bible saying where your riches are there will your heart be also...SO, who wins here? You've got to catch it on TCM when you can. IMHO giving it 9 stars out of 10 is perfect.

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.