IMDb > Tell Me a Riddle (1980)

Tell Me a Riddle (1980) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   74 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 17% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Lee Grant
Writers:
Joyce Eliason (writer)
Alev Lytle (writer)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Tell Me a Riddle on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 August 1982 (Netherlands) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
Touching story of elderly couple David and Eva who go on one last journey across the USA when they discover Eva is dying... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Kedrova is magnificent! more (2 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Melvyn Douglas ... David
Lila Kedrova ... Eva

Brooke Adams ... Jeannie
Dolores Dorn ... Vivi
Bob Elross ... Sammy
Jon Harris ... Mathew
Zalman King ... Paul
Winifred Mann ... Hannah
Peter Owens ... Phil
Deborah Sussel ... Nancy
Lili Valenty ... Mrs. Mays
Nora Heflin ... Young Eva

Peter Coyote ... Young David
Nora Bendich ... Lisa
Robert Behling ... Tim
Peter Berg ... Man On Street Corner
Joy Bianchi ... Ann
Ralph Chesse ... Jacob
Don Coughlin ... Doctor
Richard Dupell ... Tai Chi Dancer
Perry Herman ... Richard
Maria Acosta-Colon ... Singer in Park
Bruce Barthol ... Singer in Park
Eduardo Lobledo ... Singer in Park
Sharon Lockwood ... Singer in Park
Rob Revelli ... Morty
Shalom Sherman ... Accordionist
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Directed by
Lee Grant 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Joyce Eliason  writer
Alev Lytle  writer
Tillie Olsen  story

Produced by
Mindy Affrime .... producer
Rachel Lyon .... producer
Susan O'Connell .... producer
Michael Rosenberg .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Shalom Sherman 
Sheldon Shkolnik 
 
Cinematography by
Fred Murphy 
 
Film Editing by
Suzanne Pettit 
 
Production Design by
Patrizia von Brandenstein 
 
Set Decoration by
Steph Benseman 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Schindler .... first assistant director
 
Sound Department
Vivien Hillgrove Gilliam .... sound editor
Richard Hymns .... sound editor
Pat Jackson .... sound supervisor
Barbara McBane .... dialogue editor
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Bray .... still photographer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Elizabeth Still .... costume supervisor
 
Music Department
Kenneth Karman .... music editor
 
Other crew
Steph Benseman .... location manager
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
USA:90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Russian
Color:
Black and White | Color
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | USA:PG
Filming Locations:
Marin County, California, USA more
Company:
Godmother Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Tillie Olsen's short story "Tell Me a Riddle" was awarded the O. Henry Award for best short story of 1961 after it was published in "New World Writing" Issue no. 16. more

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful.
Kedrova is magnificent!, 8 October 2001
10/10
Author: aromatic-2 (aromatic@ivillage.com) from New York, NY

Lila Kedrova is stupendous in as magnificent a performance as I have ever seen an elderly actress give on the screen. Douglas and Adams are also terrific as Kedrova's husband and estranged daughter respectively, but it is Kedrova who elevates this last-journey-before-I-die soaper far above its roots. The pacing is a tad slow, but the terrific photography, sensitive score, and magnificent performances more than make up for any shortcomings.

Warning, the first time I saw it, the male friend who was with me hated it, and wanted to walk out. When I recently re-watched it off cable, a male colleague called it "incredibly boring." Since I and every other woman I know who saw it loved it, I conclude that most men I know don't really get the subtleties of what was truly going on. Because Lila's relationships with her husband and daughter are reflected against the prism of her life, the director's artistic brilliance needs to be absorbed rather than spoon-fed. So my advice to other women is to see this one alone or with another woman. Otherwise, you may find yourself constantly being nagged to put on something with some action in it.

That being said, this is a terrific and sensitive movie. Enjoy it.

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Related Links

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