The Barefoot Contessa
“The world's most beautiful animal!”
A washed-up filmmaker gets a second chance at stardom when he discovers stunning peasant Maria Vargas dancing in a Madrid nightclub. Goaded by his producer, the director convinces Maria to screen test for, and then star in, his next big picture. But as the producer's possessive nature and the realities of stardom weigh on Maria, she seeks a genuine lover with whom she can escape.
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Cast
25 people
Humphrey Bogart
Harry Dawes
Known for
Casablanca
The Maltese Falcon
Ava Gardner
Maria Vargas
Known for
Earthquake
The Killers
Edmond O'Brien
Oscar Muldoon
Known for
The Killers
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Marius Goring
Alberto Bravano
Known for
The Red Shoes
A Matter of Life and Death
Valentina Cortese
Eleanora Torlato-Favrini
Known for
Jesus of Nazareth
Day for Night
Rossano Brazzi
Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini
Known for
The Final Conflict
South Pacific
Elizabeth Sellars
Jerry
Known for
The Mummy's Shroud
55 Days at Peking
Warren Stevens
Kirk Edwards
Known for
Forbidden Planet
No Name on the Bullet
Franco Interlenghi
Pedro Vargas
Known for
I Vitelloni
Shoeshine
Mari Aldon
Myrna
Known for
Distant Drums
Summertime
Enzo Staiola
Busboy
Known for
Bicycle Thieves
The Return of Don Camillo
Bill Fraser
J. Montague Brown
Known for
The Americanization of Emily
Joseph L. Mankiewicz Director · Mario Nascimbene Composer Jack Cardiff Cinematographer
Worldwide gross $6.6M · United States release September 29, 1954 · Produced in United States, Italy
Box office
Worldwide gross
$6,600,000
Production
Figaro Incorporated Production
Production
Transoceanic Film
Production
United Artists
Production
Figaro
Production
United Artists Pictures
Studio
United States · Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Italian · Spanish
Release dates
Finland · September 29, 1954
Theatrical
United States · September 29, 1954
Theatrical
United States · January 1, 1990
Physical · VHS (exact date unknown)
United States
January 1, 1999 · Physical · VHS re-release (exact date unknown)
January 1, 2001 · Physical · DVD (exact date unknown)
December 13, 2016 · Physical · HD Blu-ray (limited)
Brazil
January 1, 1955 · Theatrical
November 7, 2007 · Physical · DVD Arrais
France
December 12, 2021 · Digital · Arte•tv
December 12, 2021 · TV · Arte
November 8, 2023 · TV · Ciné+ Classic
June 30, 2024 · Digital · Arte•tv
June 30, 2024 · TV · Arte
September 13, 2025 · Digital · France•tv
September 13, 2025 · TV · France•3
Germany
April 7, 1955 · Theatrical
Ireland
January 21, 1955 · Theatrical
Japan
November 11, 1954 · Theatrical
Netherlands
June 2, 2004 · Physical · DVD
January 14, 2010 · Theatrical · Re-release
Portugal
October 23, 1957 · Theatrical
Sweden
September 29, 1954 · Theatrical
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