The Barefoot Contessa (1954): Plot, Cast & Where to Watch

Name: The Barefoot Contessa
Genre: Drama
Released: 1954
Duration: 128 min
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Marius Goring, Valentina Cortese

What The Barefoot Contessa Is About

It opens at a funeral and works backwards through a Spanish dancer's rise to Hollywood stardom and what followed. Joseph Mankiewicz refuses to give the story to one narrator: several men describe the same woman and none can quite account for her, which is the actual subject. Ava Gardner plays a figure everyone keeps trying to fit into a story of their own. The dialogue is long and literary in the manner of the period. The ending is hard and completes the argument the film made at the start, that a person can become a legend without ever being known.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Barefoot Contessa about?

It opens at a funeral and works backwards through a Spanish dancer's rise to Hollywood stardom and what followed. Joseph Mankiewicz refuses to give the story to one narrator: several men describe the same woman and none can quite account for her, which is the actual subject.

Where can I watch The Barefoot Contessa?

The Barefoot Contessa is available to watch on digital platforms such as fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Philo. Current rent and buy options are listed in the "Where to Watch" section on this page.

How long is The Barefoot Contessa?

The Barefoot Contessa runs for 128 minutes (2h 8m).

When did The Barefoot Contessa come out?

The Barefoot Contessa was released in 1954.

Who directed The Barefoot Contessa?

The Barefoot Contessa was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Who stars in The Barefoot Contessa?

The Barefoot Contessa stars Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Marius Goring.

What is The Barefoot Contessa's rating?

The Barefoot Contessa holds 6.9/10 on IMDb and 6.7/10 on TMDB. Its Pulse Score is 68 out of 100.