Zee & Co (1972)

London architect Robert Blakeley (Michael Caine) and his wife Zee (Elizabeth Taylor) are a self-absorbed pair with a love-hate marriage that spirals towards destruction when Robert falls in love with a beautiful and elegant young boutique owner named Stella (Susannah York) and is unfaithful.

Zee then goes through a series of scheming she-devil adventures to break Robert and Stella up: stalking the lovers, tossing Robert’s possessions into the street and, finally, attempting suicide.

Then, while recovering in hospital, Zee requests that Stella visit her, and Stella – stupidly – accepts the offer.  Zee starts playing mind games with her husband’s mistress, who (inexplicably) reveals to Zee her deepest personal secret.

It’s a brash affair that sees Taylor venting in best Virginia Woolf style, but the film tries a bit too hard to outrage (the lesbian subplot is particularly silly). It does provide a decent showcase for the three leads, though.

Released in some markets as X, Y and Zee.

Zee Blakeley
Elizabeth Taylor
Robert Blakeley
Michael Caine
Stella
Susannah York
Gladys
Margaret Leighton
Gordon
John Standing
Rita
Mary Larkin
Gavin
Michael Cashman

Director
Brian G. Hutton