Main Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Mia Farrow, Robert Mitchum, Peggy Ashcroft, Pamela Brown
Release Year: 1968
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 109 minutes
Plot
Secret Ceremony was based on a prize-winning short story by Argentine civil servant Marco Denevi. Elizabeth Taylor plays Leonora, an aging prostitute who becomes convinced that Cenci (Mia Farrow) is her daughter -- who supposedly died in infancy. Cenci knows that she is in fact Leonora's niece, but Leonora will not be dissuaded in her illusion that their blood ties are stronger. Albert (Robert Mitchum), Cenci's incestuous stepfather, enters the scene, laying the groundwork for a near-orgy of insanity. The full effect of Secret Ceremony was idiotically watered down when additional scenes were shot for the TV version in an attempt to make the sordid goings-on "acceptable" for a mass audience (for example, Elizabeth Taylor's profession was altered from hooker to seamstress!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
John Clark - Art Director, Christian Dior - Costume Designer, Sue Yelland - Costume Designer, Marc Bohan - Costume Designer, Richard Dalton - First Assistant Director, Joseph Losey - Director, Reginald Beck - Editor, Richard Rodney Bennett - Composer (Music Score), Marcus Dods - Musical Direction/Supervision, Alex Garfath - Makeup, Richard Macdonald - Production Designer, Gerry Fisher - Cinematographer, Paul Heller - Producer, John Heyman - Producer, Norman Priggen - Producer, Jill Oxley - Set Designer, Leslie Hammond - Sound/Sound Designer, George Tabori - Screenwriter, Marco Denevi - Short Story Author
Taylor plays a prostitute despondent over the death of her daughter. Mia Farrow is a lonely young woman who is immediately attracted to Taylor and practically adopts her as her mother. Mitchum, Farrow's stepfather, intrudes into this make-believe mother and daughter relationship, and tragedy ensues.
Reception
Critics
Critical reception of the film has tended to be mixed, with some critics essentially maintaining that it is a bad film but yet one that can be enjoyed due to a certain camp quality evident in Losey's mise-en-scène and the actors' performances. However, other film analysts regard the film as compelling because of its deep psychological portraits. Taylor's performance has been characterized as occasionally tacky, but justified by the fact that she is playing a prostitute and mother at the same time. Fans of the film cite its many moments of heart-rending emotional truth in the character, which Taylor conveys effortlessly. The role has been called one of her best ever. Farrow's performance is referred to by fans as outstanding, and Mitchum as the perverted stepfather has been described as nothing short of searing.
The chief set of the film, the house where Farrow lives, was originally a mansion in Kensington, London, decorated in the style of Art Nouveau. Losey was famous for his so-called baroque style which he put to full use showing off the architecture of the set.
There are apparently varying versions of the film, the result of Universal Pictures' tampering with Losey's original cut, possibly to de-emphasize the Lesbian aspects of the Taylor-Farrow relationship. Writer Harlan Ellison has noted in many articles that Universal Studios executives tend to savage their own films to the point of vandalism.
