X, Y und Zee

An original screenplay from Edna O'Brien about a married British architect whose extramarital affair with a pretty, placid boutique owner plays havoc in his relationship with his catty, cunning spouse--a woman with a wild-party lifestyle who spends her spare time plotting to arouse her husband in various ways. As the jabbing, biting Zee Blakeley, Elizabeth Taylor channels both her Leonora from "Reflections in a Golden Eye" and, most especially, Martha from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"; although this is really just a gaudy soap opera, the actress seems to relish her blowzy role, giving it some thought and also some pathos when she's not hooping and hollering, drunk or sober. Michael Caine is a formidable match for Taylor, though in an entirely different key; he adjusts his performance to underscore her rhythm and gives us the sense of a marriage that has seen many dark days. As the widowed mother of two who comes between them, Susannah York is rather an enigma, and O'Brien's turning the character into a woman with secrets in her closet doesn't quite come off (it plays like a stunt, and carries over to the finale). The piece is erratic and exhausting, but certainly not without interest, and Taylor is an entertainment all by herself. She holds the screen in a tight grasp, with no intention of letting go, and this is enough to keep the picture hypnotically watchable. ** from ****

... but without Edward Ablee's Pulitzer Prize winning touch. Taylor is firing on all eight cylinders again, as she did against Burton's George. This time 'George' is a remote, self-centered, enterprising individual and often on mute control around his tiger wife.

You quickly get a belly full of Taylor's ranting and antics - but there are real performance gems strewn around. And you wonder why in the world York's character with her quiet temperament and lifestyle would risk getting consumed alive by two battling idiots. If it was for the excitement, a crash landing was her sad reward.

Nevertheless, this forgotten film is worth watching just to see the three talented principals on the same set together go through their paces.

An obvious companion piece to "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" this Liz Taylor tour-de-force could be considered that classic's sequel...or "When George and Martha Tuned in and Dropped Out".

La Liz plays Zee Blakely, unhappy wife to an unhappy husband, played by the brilliant Michael Caine. They go to a swinging 60s party (even though this is 1972...the Brits just didn't want to let the decade go...yet!) and Caine meets the lovely Susannah York who he immediately flirts with and ultimately gets involved with. Sparks fly as Liz inserts herself into their relationship...in more ways than one!

A must-see for Liz's performance, as bold and brave as any actress (or actor) gets. Caine keeps pace and matches her at several points but poor Susannah has little to do but watch from the sidelines. Not familiar with the source material (book) but some changes were made for obvious reasons (I mean, free love and all but is STILL is 1972!).

Can't believe in my decades of watching I've never seen this one...thanks to TMC for unearthing it for their "Summer Camp"...frankly the ONLY camping I'm interested in! 😂

NOT for everyone and the ending is a bit "wonky" as the Brits say but a great movie for a Sunday brunch during Pride month!

Big, boozy, and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor (as Zee) has an "modern marriage" with London architect Michael Caine (as Robert Blakeley). Their extra-curricular activities aren't too serious. Then, Mr. Caine falls in "love at first sight" with blonde boutique owner Susannah York (as Stella). Caine sets her up in an apartment and plans to leave Ms. Taylor. Sensing a rival who will truly threaten her marriage, Taylor ingratiates herself into her husband's romance - intending to end the affair, or go crazy trying.

Neatly re-titled "X Y & Zee" for American consumption, enjoying this film will depend on your tolerance for Taylor's shrill, boisterous character. The drama was very "adult" for the time, but seems reluctant to show much concerning the final plan "Zee" uses to keep her husband. It also is altered from the blatant (and necessarily bisexual) "ménage à trois" in the original story (by Edna O'Brien). The more tenuous ending does retain the integrity of Taylor's character, and leaves "Zee" in a similar position.

****** Zee and Co. (12/71) Brian G. Hutton ~ Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Susannah York. Margaret Leighton

Elizabeth Taylor is just amazing. She goes for this superficial, primitive bitch with every weapon in her arsenal. Her Zee is like Martha's - Taylor's character in Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf - disgraceful twin. The one who probably never read anything, dropped out of school. She was probably disowned by her intellectual father and she went all out. Her performance is free of any literary constrictions - I mean this is not by Edward Albee - she can jump and roll at her own speed, at her own volume. Michael Caine feels like a pussycat next to her and Susannah York? She makes sense in a rather senseless character. An added charm is the appearance of the spectacular Margaret Leighton.