F for Fake

1973 89 min ★ 7.4 Documentary

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.

▶ Watch Trailer

Cast

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

Richard Wilson

Self

Joseph Cotten

Self

Details

Director

Orson Welles

Tagline

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

Status

Released

Original Language

FR

Production

SACI, Les Films de l'Astrophore, Janus Film und Fernsehen

Reviews

C

C_Hickcock

October 24, 2025

★ 10/10

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.