F for Fake

Documentary

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

User Score356 votes

74%7.4/10

Release1973→

Runtime1H 29M

LanguageEnglish

StatusReleased

Synopsis

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.

Principal Cast8

Orson Welles

Self

Oja Kodar

The Girl

Elmyr de Hory

Self

Clifford Irving

Self

Laurence Harvey

Self

Edith Irving

Self

David Walsh

Self

Paul Stewart

Self

Full Cast & Crew (39)

Media34

Backdrops

Posters

Director

Orson Welles

Director →

Trailer

Certification

Keywords

artistmanipulationillusiondeceptionibizaessay filmforgeryforgertrickery

Where to Watch

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External Links

IMDb

Reviews1

C_Hickcock10/10

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.

Oct 24, 2025