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The Fountain of Youth poster

The Fountain of Youth

1958 · 0h 27m · Drama, TV Movie · United States of America

A darkly comic fable about vanity and desire, "The Fountain of Youth" follows a newly married couple whose relationship is destabilized by the arrival of a potion that promises centuries of youth and beauty—but in a quantity sufficient for only one person. As temptation and resentment grow, the gift becomes a catalyst for moral and emotional collapse. Written, directed, and narrated by Orson Welles and based on John Collier’s short story “Youth from Vienna,” the film uses stylized narration and experimental visual techniques to construct a compact essay on human vanity. (Note: Originally produced in 1956 as a television pilot and broadcast once in 1958 as part of NBC’s Colgate Theatre anthology series (S1E5); it later achieved independent archival and cultural status, including a 1958 Peabody Award.)

Directed by
Orson Welles
Written by
Orson Welles, John Collier
Starring
Marjorie Bennett, Madge Blake, Billy House, Rick Jason
6.1Smart score

The TMDB rating, pulled toward the movie average (6.03) as if it had 82 extra average votes. Few votes means more pull.

TMDB6.2

17 TMDB votes · IMDb page

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Not available to stream, rent or buy in United States.

Streaming data by JustWatch, via TMDB. Links open the JustWatch listing for United States.

Style & content

short film

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Connected through the crew

Citizen Kane1941 · Director Orson Welles, Writer Orson WellesTouch of Evil1958 · Director Orson Welles, Writer Orson WellesThe Big Sleep1946 · Cinematographer Sidney HickoxThe Lady from Shanghai1947 · Writer Orson Welles, Director Orson WellesThe Stranger1946 · Director Orson WellesTo Have and Have Not1945 · Cinematographer Sidney HickoxThe Trial1962 · Writer Orson Welles, Director Orson WellesWhite Heat1949 · Cinematographer Sidney HickoxThe Magnificent Ambersons1942 · Director Orson Welles, Writer Orson WellesMonsieur Verdoux1947 · Writer Orson WellesThem!1954 · Cinematographer Sidney HickoxF for Fake1973 · Writer Orson Welles, Director Orson Welles

Browse lists

Best Drama Movies of the 1950sBest Drama Movies of All Time