May 20, 2025
The Collector premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 1965 before its official release in June.
Based on John Fowles' 1963 novel (adapted by John Kohn and Stanley Mann), William Wyler turned down the opportunity to direct The Sound of Music to make The Collector.
Wyler fired Samantha Eggar three weeks into rehearsals, but was re-hired after agreeing that Kathleen Freeman be on set as Eggar's personal coach.
Eggar and co-star Terence Stamp received Best Actress and Best Actor awards at Cannes, the first time two performers from the same film received top honors. The Collector was nominated for 3 Academy Awards: Best Actress (Eggar), Best Director (Wyler's 12th and final nomination), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
