Impossible Object, later released as Story of a Love Story, is a 1973 drama film starring Alan Bates and Dominique Sanda. It was directed by John Frankenheimer with a screenplay by Nicholas Mosley based on his own novel. It was screened at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition.[2] Mosley wrote the screenplay at the behest of director Joseph Losey, whose film Accident was based on an earlier Mosley novel. Dirk Bogarde and Catherine Deneuve had been attached to the film.[3] However, Losey had difficulty financing the film and later fell out with Mosley over The Assassination of Trotsky. Frankenheimer, looking to make an independent film, took over the project.
| Impossible Object | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Frankenheimer |
| Written by | Nicholas Mosley Eric Kahane |
| Based on | Impossible Object by Nicholas Mosley |
| Produced by | Robert Bradford Jud Kinberg |
| Starring | Alan Bates Dominique Sanda |
| Cinematography | Claude Renoir |
| Edited by | Albert Jurgenson |
| Music by | Michel Legrand |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | Italy France |
| Language | English French |
| Budget | $1.8 million[1] |
Cast
- Alan Bates as Harry
- Dominique Sanda as Natalie
- Michel Auclair as Georges
- Evans Evans as Elizabeth
- Paul Crauchet
- Lea Massari as Woman
- Sean Bury
- Henry Czarniak
- Mark Dightam
- Vernon Dobtcheff
- Isabelle Giraud-Carrier
- Michael McVey
- Laurence de Monaghan as Cleo
- André Rouille
Production
Principal photography for this movie was delayed until Dominique Sanda gave birth to her son (in April 1972). John Frankenheimer shot footage of a pregnant and naked Sanda, which was used in the movie when her character Nathalie, Harry's mistress, is pregnant with his child.[4]
Reception
The film was a financial failure. Frankenheimer later said it was never properly released because the producers went bankrupt.[5] However, the film saw some success at the 1974 Atlanta Film Festival, where it won the Grand Award Gold Phoenix for best film. Mosley also won for best screenplay and composer Michel Legrand for his film score.[6] Frankenheimer said he entered the film with a stolen print.[7]
References
External links
- Impossible Object at IMDb
- Impossible Object at Rotten Tomatoes
- L'impossible objet at Festival de Cannes
