O Rolls-Royce Amarelo

The Yellow Rolls-Royce follows three sets of car owners and how the title car influences their slice of life. With an all-star cast and short stories that are easy to follow, these types of movies are always popular and usually include something or someone to love.

The first vignette actually makes you feel sorry for Rex Harrison, which is a miracle in itself. He's a wealthy diplomat with an unfaithful wife, Jeanne Moreau, and his story is rather sad. Everyone will get a laugh, however, when Jeanne requests, "Be a darling, will you, and fetch me my slippers?" Take that, Professor Higgins!

In order to make up for the sadness of the first vignette, the second starts off a little silly. Italian mobster George C. Scott and his low-class American fiancé Shirley MacLaine buy the car. Between her gum-chewing and his pseudo-Italian accent, you think you're in for a ridiculous third of the movie. It does get better, though, when George leaves for business and leaves Shirley alone with the car. . . and the ridiculously cute Alain Delon.

By the time the third vignette rolls around, you've had time to realize this is a bittersweet movie. Ingrid Bergman and Omar Sharif join forces in the last act, using the car to help the resistance before WWII breaks out. It's an interesting ending to the film, since all three vignettes aren't really stories to write home about but are entertaining at the time.

All the three actresses are beautiful and attractive: some honest and some dishonest. The men remain the drones to the queen bee in all the three episodes.

Jeanne Moreau is probably the weakest of the trio but elegant in her role as a wife who has a young lover. Shirley Maclaine is the classical stunning dumb blonde who has to make a choice to step into a stable, rich married life. The fascinating Ingrid Bergman chooses to step down from a wealthy peerage to a realistic rustic lifestyle using charming wit for achieving an honest end.

This is Asquith's last film with Jack Hildyard's cinematography that is patchy but stunning at times. As a film it is average but the casting and the performances of the three ladies and George C Scott are notable.

This movie presents three stories one after the other, as we follow the fortunes of the first and subsequent owners of the yellow Rolls of the title. First, Rex Harrison buys it as a present for his erring wife, Jeanne Moreau. She uses an anniversary party to flaunt her boyfriend, Edmund Purdom. The car then makes its way into the hands of Mafiosi George C Scott and his moll Shirley MacLaine. She falls for French photographer Alain Delon (and who can blame her?). Finally, the car plays its part in international politics when Ingrid Bergman and Omar Sharif take it on a rescue mission.

Anthony Asquith's film survives because of its construction, using the car as a lynchpin for three very different stories, character combinations, and situations. The car remains the star (perhaps because of its colour) but there are enjoyable performances here too. It isn't a challenging or particularly exciting film, but helps to pass the time. Personally I find it a better British film centring on a car than the earlier Genevieve, but that might just be my own taste.

This is a slow moving but entertaining movie. The three stories are romantic and charming. The cast is outstanding. Ingrid Bergman, Omar Shariff, George C. Scott, Art Carney, and Shirley McLaine to mention a few. Chances are of you enjoy movies from the 1960s you may like it. This type of movie was common then, but many have not fared well in getting to video. This has never been a hit but always enjoyed by many. Unfortunately it is not available on DVD or even VHS. If you have seen it and enjoyed it you may want to see "The Red Violin" with Samuel Jackson. Several stories that tie together with a red violin. The only common thread in "The Yellow Rolls-Royce" is the car. One of those if such-and-such could talk stories. It has been years since I have seen it telecast on TV. Good luck trying to see it.

And also some ravishing scenery. This movie has three separate segments, all of them well done in spite of a pretty tepid script. The actors are magnificent but I would have to say that Shirley MacLaine was amazing as a gangster's moll who falls in love and then sacrifices that love to save his life. Beautifully acted. Omar and Ingrid also shine in the segment about fighting in the hills of Yugoslavia. Of course in all three of the stories the males are mere foils for the females and the car itself. This movie is definitely a "guilty pleasure." 7 out of 10.