This anthology movie is the story of a luxuriously upholstered vehicle – at once witty, romantic, plush, glamorous and dreamy – as a Rolls-Royce (a 1931 Phantom II Barker Sedanca de Ville) passes from Marquis to Italian mobster, then to a haughty American millionairess, consorting with wartime Yugoslav guerillas.
In each of the three separate stories, someone’s girl manages to be unfaithful.
The first owner – in England – is the Marquess of Frinton (Rex Harrison), who buys the Roller for his French wife’s birthday (Jeanne Moreau). Unbeknownst to him, the Marchioness has a lover (Edmund Purdom) and – frantic for a place to make love before he leaves the country – they choose the car.
The second episode is set in Italy and stars George C. Scott as Italian-American mobster Paolo Maltese who brings his girlfriend (Shirley MacLaine) to Italy to introduce her to his family. She falls for Italian street photographer Stefano (Alain Delon) while Paolo is away “taking care” of a competitor in America.
She and Stefano also make love in the yellow Rolls-Royce.
The final tale mixes Yugoslavian partisans and haughty millionairess Gerda Millett (Ingrid Bergman) – she becomes a guerilla and the car (now looking rather worn), a vehicle of combat as Gerda smuggles rebel Davich (Omar Sharif) across the border in the boot (trunk).
The production is sumptuous, with glorious European scenery, and the film stars many world-famous names. This was Joyce Grenfell’s final movie before her death in November 1979, aged 69. It was also Anthony Asquith’s final movie as a director before his death in February 1968, aged 65.
Gerda Millett
Ingrid Bergman Marquess of Frinton
Rex Harrison Marchioness of Frinton
Jeanne Moreau Mae Jenkins
Shirley MacLaine Paolo Maltese
George C. Scott Davich
Omar Sharif Stefano
Alain Delon Joey Friedlander
Art Carney Hortense Astor
Joyce Grenfell Fane
Edmund Purdom Harnsworth
Michael Hordern Assistant Car Salesman
Lance Percival Norwood
Roland Culver Lady Angela St. Simeon
Moira Lister Taylor
Harold Scott Osborn
Richard Pearson Duchesse d’Angouleme
Isa Miranda Albanian Ambassador
Grégoire Aslan Bomba
Riccardo Garrone Ferguson
Wally Cox Michele
Carlo Croccolo Mayor
Guy Deghy Head Waiter
Martin Miller
Director
Anthony Asquith
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