The Fountain of Youth poster

The Fountain of Youth

6.2(17)195827m1

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.)

Share WhatsApp Telegram
Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • short film

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Orson Welles

Produced in

United States of America

Gallery

Still from The Fountain of Youth

Videos

No extra videos are listed for this title yet.

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • TV16 Sept 1958

Frequently asked questions

The Fountain of Youth was released on 16 September 1958.

Member reviews

Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

Member comments

0

Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

More like this