The Yellow Rolls-Royce *** (1964, Ingrid Bergman, Rex Harrison, Jeanne Moreau, Shirley MacLaine, George C Scott, Alain Delon, Omar Sharif) – Classic Movie Review 6471

Director Anthony Asquith’s super-sleek, plush, purring but featherweight 1964 portmanteau movie (anthology film) The Yellow Rolls-Royce follows the fortunes of three different owners of this Phantom II yellow Rolls-Royce from the Twenties to the Forties.

The movie’s main attractions are the welcome international cast of Sixties first-class passengers, producer Anatole de Grunwald’s luxury production designed by Vincent Korda, and the lovingly crafted screenplay by Terence Rattigan. To the attractions, you can add Jack Hildyard’s Metrocolor cinematography, Anthony Mendleson’s costumes and Riz Ortolani’s score.

The yellow Rolls-Royce is bought first by the Marquess of Frinton as a belated anniversary present for his wife, a gift he lives to regret.

In England, British politician/ diplomat the Marquess of Frinton (Rex Harrison) finds his wife the Marchioness Eloise (Jeanne Moreau) canoodling in the yellow Rolls-Royce car with John Fane (Edmund Purdom).

Alain Delon plays hunky photographer Stefano.

In Italy, mobster Paolo Maltese (George C Scott) discovers his gangster’s moll Mae Jenkins (Shirley MacLaine) having fun in the same car with hunky photographer Stefano (Alain Delon).

In Yugoslavia, on the outbreak of World War Two, Gerda Millett (Ingrid Bergman) smuggles out Yugoslav patriot Davich (Omar Sharif) to freedom in the same Rolls-Royce.

The yarns are all modest, but they just squeeze in enough charm to score.

Also in the cast are Moira Lister, Roland Culver, Art Carney, Joyce Grenfell, John Vernon, Wally Cox, Isa Miranda, Michael Hordern, Lance Percival, Grégoire Aslan, Riccardo Garrone, Guy Deghy, Harold Scott, Richard Pearson, Carlo Croccolo, Martin Miller, Reginald Beckwith, Jacques B Brunius, Jonathan Cecil, Tom Gill, Dermot Kelly, Andreas Malandrinos and Richard Vernon.

The Yellow Rolls-Royce won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for ‘Forget Domani’ by Riz Ortolani (music) and Norman Newell (lyrics). Riz Ortolani was also a Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Score.

Jeanne Moreau (1928–2017).

RIP Jeanne Moreau (1928–2017).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6471

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