The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1965)

Pretty Good

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Blistering performances.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

After Omar Sharif died a few months ago, I had a jones to see one of his movies and when I looked his name up on Netflix, I decided on this one for the DVD rental. It had three segments-all involving the title vehicle. First one starred Rex Harrison and Jeanne Moreau as a British married couple who rarely saw each other though this particular day was supposed to solve all that. I'll just say one of them is revealed to be a cheater and leave it at that. Second one stars George C. Scott, Art Carney, Shirley MacLaine, and Alain Delon. Shirley's a moll of gangster Scott who temporarily leaves Italy to do some "business" in America leaving her to find her own fun with either Carney or Delon. Third segment has Sharif and Ingrid Bergman encountering each other at the outbreak of World War II. I'll stop there and just say that the first segment was okay for its short length, the second was pretty amusing when MacLaine was being ignorant of culture before growing up a bit. Pretty touching the way it ended if also sad. The last one was the most fun for me especially when Ms. Bergman was driving the title vehicle! Mom and I managed to very much enjoy this movie as it kept going on. So on that note, The Yellow Rolls-Royce is worth a look.

What a visual treat to see the scenery of Europe, along with the acting talents of some of my very favorite performers! Three couples own a fabulous car over a period of years, each with a story worth telling. Rex Harrison presents a touching, surprisingly sympathetic husband who loves his wife too much. Jeanne Moreau is the cheating wife, probably the weakest female of the three. In act two, Shirley MacLaine shines as the gangster moll with a heart, who falls in love with the impossibly gorgeous Alain Delon. George C. Scott plays a part totally unlike any of his others, and Art Carney is a sweet cameo.I especially loved the final act of the trio, when aristocratic Ingrid Bergman, in a multi-layered performance, helps resistance fighter Omar Sharif (I could watch him brush his teeth for two hours!) transport his colleagues to safety in Yugoslavia during WWII. The car is almost a character in itself, as is Bergman's little dog, who plays her part with gusto. I especially loved the comedic moments so beautifully played by Ms. Bergman. She and Sharif make a gorgeous, sensitive couple, and are eye candy for those of us who love fanciful, impossible love affairs. A wonderful film for a rainy afternoon.

IMDb has it listed as a goof that: In the first segment Rex Harrison asks that the phone be moved to the left side of the back seat, but in subsequent segments the phone is still on the right side...POSSIBLE SPOILER BUT Rex Harrison only owns the car for two days! When he asks that the phone be moved (and some other request) the Rolls Royce man tells him that it will take a week. But Rex needs it that very day as an anniversary present because the following day is the big horse race. They don't have time to move the phone before he takes delivery of the car. When the car arrives he remarks to his wife that he will have the phone moved. But the very next day he sends the car back.So why does IMDb list as a goof the fact that the car is still on the left side?!

"The Yellow Rolls-Royce" is a good "B" movie with "A" performances. The story is a piece of fluff but it is interesting. It is about a yellow rolls-royce that is owned by three different wealthy owners over a period of 20 years. My favorite story is the first. Marquess of Frinton (Rex Harrison) buys a new yellow rolls-royce for his French wife (Jeanne Moreau) as a belated anniversary gift. He supplies his wife with gifts and love but realizes she is not happy. Mr. Harrison was given a few good roles after "My Fair Lady": "The Yellow Rolls-Royce", "The Agony and the Ecstasy", "The Honey Pot", and "Doctor Dolittle." It is nice to see Mr. Harrison play a nice husband in "The Yellow Rolls-Royce."The last two movies the director, Anthony Asquith, directed were very good ensemble movies: ""The VIP's" and "The Yellow Rolls-Royce." Every actor in both movies was superb.