The Yellow Rolls-Royce

Infobox Film
name = The Yellow Rolls-Royce


caption = film poster by Howard Terpning
director = Anthony Asquith
producer = Anatole de Grunwald
writer = Terence Rattigan
narrator =
starring = Rex Harrison Jeanne Moreau
music = Riz Ortolani
cinematography = Jack Hildyard
editing = Frank Clarke
distributor = MGM
released = 1964
runtime = 122 min.
country = UK
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0059927

"The Yellow Rolls-Royce" is a 1964 drama film. It is also considered an anthology film.

Directed by Anthony Asquith, produced by Anatole de Grunwald and written by Terence Rattigan, it tells the story of three very different owners of a yellow Rolls-Royce Phantom II: an English aristocrat, a Chicago gangster and a wealthy American widow. It is set in the years up to and including the start of World War II.

Produced as a result of the success of "The V.I.P.s" a year earlier, it boasts a similar
all-star cast, including Rex Harrison, Ingrid Bergman, Shirley MacLaine, Omar Sharif, George C. Scott and Jeanne Moreau.The famous song "Forget Domani" is sung by Katyna Ranieri in this movie.

Plot

The car is first purchased by the Marquess of Frinton (Rex Harrison) as an anniversary present for his French wife, Eloise (Jeanne Moreau). The marquess is a longtime horse owner who has his heart set on winning at Ascot Racecourse. This year, his horse is favoured and does indeed win. However, his elation is blighted when he finds his wife with her lover and his underling, John Fane (Edmund Purdom), in the back of the Rolls. For appearance's sake, he will not divorce her, but he sends back the car.

The Rolls is eventually purchased by American gangster Paolo Maltese (George C. Scott). He is touring Italy with his fiancée Mae Jenkins (Shirley MacLaine) and his right hand man Joey Friedlander (Art Carney). When Paolo returns to the United States to take care of some unsavory business, he leaves Joey to chaperone Mae. Joey turns a blind eye when she falls in love with Stefano (Alain Delon, a handsome young street photographer. However, when Paolo rejoins them, Mae lies to Stefano, telling him that it was just a fling, in order to protect him from her lethal boyfriend.

The next owner of the car is Mrs. Gerda Millett (Ingrid Bergman), a bossy, wealthy American widow touring Europe. When the Germans invade Yugoslavia, patriot Davich (Omar Sharif) commandeers her automobile to sneak into the country. However, none of his men know how to drive, so Mrs. Millett volunteers, much to Davich's surprise. They survive a German aerial attack and reach their destination. Along the way, the two very different people fall in love. She wants to stay and help repel the invaders, but Davich will not permit it, saying it is not her fight. He tells her to go back to America and tell people what she has witnessed.

Cast

* Rex Harrison as the Marquess of Frinton
* Jeanne Moreau as the Marchioness Eloise of Frinton
* Edmund Purdom as John Fane
* Shirley MacLaine as Mae Jenkins
* George C. Scott as Paolo Maltese
* Moira Lister as Lady Angela St. Simeon
* Isa Miranda as the Duchesse D'Angouleme
* Ingrid Bergman as Gerda Millett
* Omar Sharif as Davich
* Roland Culver as Norwood
* Michael Hordern as Harmsworth
* Lance Percival as Assistant Car Salesman
* Harold Scott as Taylor
* Alain Delon as Stefano
* Art Carney as Joey Friedlander
* Riccardo Garrone as Bomba
* Joyce Grenfell as Hortense Astor
* Wally Cox as Ferguson
* Richard Pearson as Osborn
* Jacques Brunius as the Duc d'Angouleme
* Carlo Croccolo as Mrs. Millett's Chauffeur
* Reginald Beckwith
* Gregoire Aslan as the Albanian Ambassador
* Martin Miller as Headwaiter
* Andrea Malandrinos as the Hotel Manager
* Guy Deghy as the Mayor

External links

*tcmdb title|id=96397|title=The Yellow Rolls Royce