Zee and Co [X, Y and Zee] ** (1972, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Susannah York) – Classic Movie Review 8708

The trashy 1972 drama film Zee and Co is never going to be regarded as Elizabeth Taylor’s best film, but she really puts everything into it to try to make it work.

Director Brian G Hutton’s 1972 drama film Zee and Co [X, Y and Zee] stars Elizabeth Taylor as a shrewish wife again, and her character Zee Blakeley is such a monster that she sends her rich architect husband Robert (Michael Caine) to look for love with beautiful young widowed shop owner Stella (Susannah York).

Zee retaliates by going to bed with Stella in a lesbian scene with Taylor and York that you never expected to see. Zee and Robert really relish wallowing in their dysfunctional love-hate marriage.

The unstoppable stars cannot be faulted for their commitment to the piece, which is so trashy that it is thoroughly enjoyable. It is never going to be regarded as Taylor’s best film, but she really puts everything into it to try to make it work.

You would expect a script much more subtle and thoughtful from Edna O’Brien, but then perhaps it is director Hutton’s handling that is at fault. Well, somebody must be to blame.

Trashy or not, it was Golden Globe nominated as 1973 Best English-Language Foreign Film, and Elizabeth Taylor won the Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera) award at the 1972 David di Donatello Awards.

Also in the cast are Margaret Leighton, John Standing, Mary Larkin, Michael Cashman, Gino Melvazzi, Julian West and Hilary West.

Caine claimed years later that Taylor was paid ten times more than he was – but then she is the film’s main attraction.

Zee and Co was shot at the UK’s Shepperton Studios and on location in London, and was released by Columbia Pictures on 24 February 1972 (UK) and January 21, 1972 (US).

The sets are designed by Peter Mullins.

The theme song ‘Going in Circles’ was covered in 1972 by American rock band Three Dog Night, as the B-side to their single “The Family of Man’ and on their album Seven Separate Fools.

It is also known as X Y and Zee and as Zee and Company.

Running time: 108 minutes.

The cast are Elizabeth Taylor as Zee Blakeley, Michael Caine as Robert Blakeley, Susannah York as Stella, Margaret Leighton as Gladys, John Standing as Gordon, Mary Larkin as Rita, Michael Cashman as Gavin, Gino Melvazzi as Head Waiter, Julian West and Hilary West.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8,708

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