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F for Fake
F for Fake

F for Fake (1973)

74% User Rating
1h 29min
Documentary

"A magician is just an actor playing the part of a magician."

Documents the lives of infamous fakers Elmyr de Hory and Clifford Irving. De Hory, who later committed suicide to avoid more prison time, made his name by selling forged works of art by painters like Picasso and Matisse. Irving was infamous for writing a fake autobiography of Howard Hughes. Welles moves between documentary and fiction as he examines the fundamental elements of fraud and the people who commit fraud at the expense of others.

Orson WellesDirector

Cast

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Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Self

Oja Kodar

Oja Kodar

The Girl

Elmyr de Hory

Elmyr de Hory

Self

Clifford Irving

Clifford Irving

Self

Laurence Harvey

Laurence Harvey

Self

The Movie Database

Edith Irving

Self

The Movie Database

David Walsh

Self

Paul Stewart

Paul Stewart

Self

The Movie Database

Richard Wilson

Self

Joseph Cotten

Joseph Cotten

Self

Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes

Self (archive footage)

The Movie Database

Richard Drewett

Self

The Movie Database

Alexander Welles

Self

Gary Graver

Gary Graver

Self

Andrés Vicente Gómez

Andrés Vicente Gómez

Self

The Movie Database

Julio Palinkas

Self

The Movie Database

Christian Odasso

Self

Françoise Widhoff

Françoise Widhoff

Self

Peter Bogdanovich

Peter Bogdanovich

Self

William Alland

William Alland

Self

The Movie Database

Mark Forgy

Self

Nina van Pallandt

Nina van Pallandt

Self

Reviews (1)

All Reviews
C
C_Hickcock
Rating 100%

October 24, 2025

This movie is a masterpiece -- it is equal parts an insightful essay, a magic trick and a prank. Welles considered it a new type of film -- its subject matter explores what is a forgery/counterfeit vs. what is authentic and the film wrestles with its subject by blurring those lines in a way that is both entertaining and fun. It's a masterclass in editing and a must for any student of filmmaking.

Media

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F For Fake ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer

F For Fake ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer

Peter Bogdanovich on F for Fake

Peter Bogdanovich on F for Fake

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