The Appointment (film)

The Appointment
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySidney Lumet
Written byJames Salter
Antonio Leonviola (story)
Produced byMartin Poll
StarringOmar Sharif
Anouk Aimée
CinematographyCarlo Di Palma
Edited byThelma Connell
Music byJohn Barry
Don Walker
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • May 1969 (1969-05) (Cannes Film Festival)[1]
  • July 18, 1969 (1969-07-18) (Finland)
  • August 15, 1970 (1970-08-15) (Sweden)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Appointment is a 1969 psychological drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Omar Sharif and Anouk Aimée. Written by James Salter, it is based on the story by Antonio Leonviola.

Plot

After becoming involved with the ex-fiancée of a business acquaintance, lawyer Frederico Fendi (Omar Sharif) becomes consumed with suspicion that his new wife Carla (Anouk Aimée) may be moonlighting as a high-class prostitute. His attempts to entrap her lead to disaster.

Cast

Actor Role
Omar Sharif Frederico Fendi
Anouk Aimée Carla
Lotte Lenya Emma Valadier
Didi Perego Nani de Marchis
Fausto Tozzi Renzo
Gigi Proietti Fabre
Paola Barbara Mother
Ennio Balbo Ugo Perino
Inna Alexeieff Old Woman on Train

Production

The Appointment has three original scores. Michel Legrand composed the film's first score. That score contained only a single theme, with variations, and was ultimately rejected. A replacement score was composed by John Barry, which was used in the film's theatrical release. Barry's score also contained a single theme with variations, with the exception of select location scenes. The film had a very limited release in the United States, and when the rights were purchased for U.S. television airing by CBS, MGM re-edited the film and commissioned an entirely new score by Stu Phillips. Selections from all three scores were finally released on CD in 2003 by Film Score Monthly.

Awards and nominations

The Appointment was nominated for the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.[2] The prize was instead awarded to the British black comedy If.... (1968).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Official Selection 1969: All the Selection". festival-cannes.fr. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Appointment". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-04-04.