The first story in the film features Rex Harrison and celebrated French actress Jeanne Moreau in a dry tale of infidelity in the shires of England. This segment of the film is the least satisfactory, lacking warmth and humour, and the rapport between Harrison and Moreau feels completely wrong.
When the film moves onto Italy, things initially do not appear to improve, with Shirley MacLaine’s hammed up gangster’s moll more irritating than endearing. Things suddenly improve when she starts to flirt with Alain Delon and the film suddenly acquires some emotional depth and significance.
The best part of the film, however, is almost certainly the final segment. What might have been an overly sentimental tale of wartime heroics is transformed into something special and truly memorable by Ingrid Bergman, who plays a no-nonsense American socialite. Not known for her comic turns, Bergman quickly establishes herself as a remarkably talented comedienne. She literally brings the film to life and gives us what must surely rate as one of the most entertaining twenty or so minutes of British cinema.
© James Travers 2000
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- Director: Anthony Asquith
- Script: Terence Rattigan
- Photo: Jack Hildyard
- Music: Riz Ortolani
- Cast: Ingrid Bergman (Gerda Millett), Rex Harrison (The Marquess of Frinton), Shirley MacLaine (Mae Jenkins), Jeanne Moreau (The Marchioness of Frinton), George C. Scott (Paolo Maltese), Omar Sharif (Davich), Alain Delon (Stefano), Art Carney (Joey Friedlander), Joyce Grenfell (Hortense Astor), Edmund Purdom (Fane), Michael Hordern (Harnsworth), Lance Percival (Assistant Car Salesman), Roland Culver (Norwood), Moira Lister (Lady St. Simeon), Harold Scott (Taylor), Richard Pearson (Osborn)
- Country: UK
- Language: English
- Runtime: 122 min
- Aka: The Yellow Rolls Royce

Drama / Romance / Comedy






