X, Y e Z

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!

Or at least see it with an eye for FABulous clothing and wild party scenes. This was made in that part of the seventies which people really mean when they say "the sixties." Every costume Liz stuffs her pneumatic self into is at least mildly atrocious and at best wildly elaborate. She's at the top of her form as a soulless, relentlessly destructive monster as unstoppable as any giant insect from the fifties. She takes her crass, unlikeable husband apart and puts him back together again at will, and the glint in her eyes shows she'll never never quit. Caine and York fill out their roles pretty well but in the end they are Liz's toys and she doesn't play nice. And since it wasn't made in America the movie doesn't dumb everything down and flake out into a happy ending for anybody but the conquering she-monster. This movie comes down right in the middle between Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and BOOM! - Not as grinding and emotionally draining as the former and without the lack of events and plot that makes it difficult for some people to enjoy the latter. And if for some reason you happen to like Three Dog Night, there's an extra bonus for you here as Zee likes to play them REAL LOUD first thing in the morning.

X, Y and Zee is one of those rare films that can be perceived differently now than when it was originally released and be more enjoyable. However, one has to be in the right frame of mind. As a straight drama, it can be trite, uneven and a bit preposterous. But viewed as a kind of fascinating cultural time capsule with an over-the-top performance by Elizabeth Taylor as the scorned wife of a philandering Michael Caine, it can actually be quite entertaining and even hilarious. Never has any woman tried so hard to keep her man in the face of dire circumstances while simultaneously wreaking havoc on just about everyone. X, Y and Zee is a strange little film, but if you're a Taylor fan and don't mind overlooking a few flaws, you might find it quite entertaining and amusing. One thing for sure...this film belongs to Taylor; without her, it would be nothing.

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

X,Y&Z stars that romantic trio of Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, and Susannah York. I'm thinking Richard Burton must have been working on another project so Michael Caine was substituted in a part that seemed clearly written for Burton.

Caine and Taylor are a pair of married somethings who are starting to look a lot like George and Martha from Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. That would be another 20 years or so. At the moment they still have a lot of life and lovers to experience.

But for reasons not fully explained Taylor resents York, a widow with two small children far more than any of the others Caine has had. She no doubts sees a slightly younger version of herself. It really is because while the two women are having a most civilized lunch to amicably dispose of the matter of Caine, York says something to Taylor that really reminds her of herself. Something that later Taylor uses to her advantage. At the end we don't really know what's in store for this triangle.

Caine and Taylor have the showier roles, but York gives a nice understated performance. Not one hint of the end I will reveal, but it really does kind of blow Caine's mind.

I'm sure this had Richard Burton in mind originally. Watch and see if you don't agree.