Julia (1977 film)

Julia is a 1977 American WWII drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann, from a screenplay by Alvin Sargent. It is based on a chapter from Lillian Hellman's 1973 book Pentimento about the author's relationship with a lifelong friend, Julia, who fought against the Nazis in the years prior to World War II. The film stars Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason Robards, Hal Holbrook, Rosemary Murphy, Maximilian Schell, and Meryl Streep in her film debut.

Julia was released theatrically on October 2, 1977 by 20th Century Fox, grossing $20.7 million against its $7 million budget. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its period setting and performances of the cast, but criticism for the script and failure to adequately portray the friendship between the two leads.

Julia received a leading 11 nominations at the 50th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Zinnemann) and Best Actress (for Fonda), and won 3 awards: Best Supporting Actor (for Robards), Best Supporting Actress (for Redgrave) and Best Adapted Screenplay. At the 35th Golden Globe Awards, the film received a leading 7 nominations, including for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Motion Picture (for Zinnemann) and Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (for both Robards and Schell), with Fonda and Redgrave winning for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. It also received a leading 10 nominations at the 32nd British Academy Film Awards, including Best Direction (for Zinnemann) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (for Robards), and won 4 awards, including Best Film and Best Actress (for Fonda).