Elmyr de Hory
Elmyr de Hory was called "The Myth of our Century" when he was revealed as a master forger in 1968. Born in 1905, he made an estimated 1000 fake paintings, primarily in the style of the post-impressionists before he died - or disappeared - in 1976. In addition to faking paintings, Elmyr de Hory often faked his own identity, and traveled easily throughout Europe's high society.
Film about art forger Elmyr de Hory. He was also one of the subjects of Orson Welles' documentary F for Fake (1974). A Norwegian production directed by Knut W. Jorfald, spoken in English.
An unreleased 9 minute trailer for F for Fake directed by Orson Welles as promotional reel for the film's American release.
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.
