The Barefoot Contessa
“The world's most beautiful animal!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Masters of Cinema TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2018-01-08
Top Cast
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Humphrey Bogart
Harry Dawes
Ava Gardner
Maria Vargas
Edmond O'Brien
Oscar Muldoon
Marius Goring
Alberto Bravano
Valentina Cortese
Eleanora Torlato-Favrini
Rossano Brazzi
Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini
Elizabeth Sellars
Jerry
Warren Stevens
Kirk Edwards
Franco Interlenghi
Pedro Vargas
Mari Aldon
Myrna
Enzo Staiola
Busboy
Bill Fraser
J. Montague Brown
Alberto Rabagliati
Proprietor
Maria Zanoli
Maria's Mother
Renato Chiantoni
Maria's Father
John Parrish
Mr. Max Black
Jim Gérald
Mr. Blue
Diana Decker
Drunken Blonde
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 29, 1954
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 1990
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$6.6M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Screenplay & Story
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Original Score
- Mario Nascimbene
- Original Title
- The Barefoot Contessa
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Italy
- Spoken Languages
- Spanish, English, Italian
- Runtime
- 2h 8m
- Worldwide Gross
- $6.6M
- Production Studios
- Figaro Incorporated Production, Transoceanic Film, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Mario Nascimbene
Jack Cardiff
William Hornbeck
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Director
Rosi Gori
Costume Design
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Writer
Mario Nascimbene
Original Music Composer
William Hornbeck
Editor
Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Barefoot Contessa.
Featured In Curated Collections
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1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Barefoot Contessa
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Barefoot Contessa about?
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.
Who directed The Barefoot Contessa?
The Barefoot Contessa was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Who stars in The Barefoot Contessa?
The principal cast of The Barefoot Contessa includes Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Marius Goring, Valentina Cortese.
When was The Barefoot Contessa released and how long is it?
The Barefoot Contessa was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 2h 8m.
How much did The Barefoot Contessa make at the box office?
The Barefoot Contessa grossed $6.6M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Barefoot Contessa?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Barefoot Contessa was composed by Mario Nascimbene.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Barefoot Contessa?
The Barefoot Contessa holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).