IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
A penniless woman meets a strange girl who insists she is her long-lost mother, and becomes enmeshed in a web of deception, and perhaps madness.A penniless woman meets a strange girl who insists she is her long-lost mother, and becomes enmeshed in a web of deception, and perhaps madness.A penniless woman meets a strange girl who insists she is her long-lost mother, and becomes enmeshed in a web of deception, and perhaps madness.
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
- 3 nominations total
Robert Douglas
- Sir Alex Gordon
- (uncredited)
George Howell
- First Cleaner
- (uncredited)
Penelope Keith
- Hotel Assistant
- (uncredited)
Roger Lloyd Pack
- Cleaner
- (uncredited)
Angus MacKay
- Vicar
- (uncredited)
Michael Strong
- Dr. Walter Stevens
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen this movie aired on NBC several years later, it was not only heavily edited to sanitize some of the seamier sexual suggestions, but also included newly shot footage (none involving any of the actors or actresses who appeared in the actual movie: Michael Tolan, Paul Rogers), including a prologue and epilogue in which a psychiatrist character discussed the characters' failings and attempted to explain away the truncated movie's many plot holes. Amongst other major changes was the profession of Leonora Grabowski (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), who somehow morphed from a prostitute in the theatrical release to a wig model in the television version.
Of the TV version, director Losey said: "not one person connected artistically with the film was consulted or involved in those changes. They're absurd...completely destroyed the rhythm, intention and content of the film...absolutely reversing the meaning of the film."
- GoofsMoving shadow of the camera on the door-frame as it moves from Lenora's room to Cenci's room at the hotel in the Netherlands.
- Alternate versionsNetwork TV version is eight minutes shorter than the theatrical release, removing some scenes and featuring alternative footage for others.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Featured review
It's hard to find words to describe Secret Ceremony. It's definitely a film that you'd be surprised the likes of Taylor, Farrow, and Mitchum would be interested in being a part of, but their commitment to the material is admirable.
Taylor plays a homeless who has a chance encounter with a creepy young woman played by Farrow who stalks her because she reminds her of her dead mother. Luckily for Farrow, she reminds Taylor of her dead daughter and the two start living together in Farrow's mansion. Needless to say, things just keep getting creepier from there.
The big issue with this film is that we don't know Taylor's character well enough to figure out why she'd ever been desperate or crazy enough to go off and live with a complete stranger, especially one as creepy and obviously disturbed as Farrow. This weak motivation makes everything that happens after it feel unearned and, frankly, boring.
There are some interesting and creepy ideas sprinkled throughout including a dollop, but it's not as interesting as it could have been.
Taylor plays a homeless who has a chance encounter with a creepy young woman played by Farrow who stalks her because she reminds her of her dead mother. Luckily for Farrow, she reminds Taylor of her dead daughter and the two start living together in Farrow's mansion. Needless to say, things just keep getting creepier from there.
The big issue with this film is that we don't know Taylor's character well enough to figure out why she'd ever been desperate or crazy enough to go off and live with a complete stranger, especially one as creepy and obviously disturbed as Farrow. This weak motivation makes everything that happens after it feel unearned and, frankly, boring.
There are some interesting and creepy ideas sprinkled throughout including a dollop, but it's not as interesting as it could have been.
- cassiewright-89520
- Feb 22, 2020
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Die Frau aus dem Nichts
- Filming locations
- Debenham House, Addison Road, Holland Park, London, England, UK(Lenora & Cenci go to this house at No. 8 after the cemetery - aka Peacock House)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $3,200,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $580
- Runtime1 hour 49 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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