The V.I.P.'s (1963)
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, (more)
- Director(s):
- Anthony Asquith
Synopsis of The V.I.P.'s
Terrence Rattigan, the playwright who brought us the multicharactered, multistoried Separate Tables, again offers us an episodic cross-section of humanity in The V.I.P.'s. When a heavy London fog paralyzes all air traffic, the lives of several people are profoundly affected. As indicated by the title, most of the characters in this portmanteau film are of the social and/or financial elite. Elizabeth Taylor wishes to leave her enormously wealthy husband Richard Burton in favor of playboy Louis Jourdan. Peripatetic European film producer Orson Welles is hoping to escape London with his newest protegee Elsa Martinelli in order to avoid paying his income tax. Australian businessman Rod Taylor, accompanied by his devoted (and adoring) secretary Maggie Smith, is anxious to head to New York to stave off a hostile takeover of his firm. And impoverished aristocrat Margaret Rutherford (who won an Oscar for her performance) would rather not go to Florida to accept a job as a social arbiter, but the wolf must be kept from the door. Before the fog disperses, you can be sure that at least one of the many plotlines will intersect with another. David Frost, in a tiny part as a reporter, was fond of recalling in later years that, while the major stars of The VIPS were introduced in the opening titles with animated limousines, he was consigned a tiny Volkswagen; alas, no such cartoon joke appears in the film, though on occasion the actors-particularly Mr. Welles-behave as though they were cartoons. Mercilessly skewered by the critics, The VIPS was a winner at the box-office, due in great part to the Cleopatra-inspired publicity concerning the top-billed Liz Taylor and Dick Burton. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Complete Cast of The V.I.P.'s
- Elizabeth Taylor - Frances Andros
- Louis Jourdan - Marc Champselle
- Elsa Martinelli - Gloria Gritti
- Rod Taylor - Les Mangrum
- Linda Christian - Miriam Marshall
- Richard Wattis - Sanders
- David Frost - Reporter
- Michael Hordern - Airport Director
- Martin Miller - Dr. Schwutzbacher
- Stringer Davis - Hotel Waiter
- Moyra Fraser - Air Hostess
- Richard Caldicot - Hotel Representative
- Reginald Beckwith - Head Waiter
- John Blythe - Barman
- Lewis Fiander - (uncredited) Third Reporter
- Gordon Sterne - Official
- Terry Alexander - Captain
- Joyce Carey - Mrs. Damer
- Maggie McGrath - Waitress
- Frank Williams - Assistant to Airport Director
- Richard Burton - Paul Andros
- Margaret Rutherford - Duchess of Brighton
- Maggie Smith - Miss Mead
- Orson Welles - Max Buda
- Dennis Price - Commander Millbank
- Ronald Fraser - Joslin
- Joan Benham - Miss Potter
- Lance Percival - B.O.A.C. Officer
- Peter Sallis - Doctor
- Clifton Jones - Jamaican Passenger
- Clifford Mollison - Mr. River the Hotel Manager
- Raymond Austin - Rolls Chauffeur
- Duncan Lewis - Hotel Receptionist
- Peter Illing - Mr. Damer
- Ann Castle - Lady Reporter
- Richard Briers - Meteorological Official
- Robert Coote - John Coburn
- Cal McCord - Visitor
- Angus Lennie - Meteorological Man
- Jill Carson - Air Hostesses
- Director(s):
- Anthony Asquith
- Writer(s):
- Terence Rattigan
- Producer(s):
- Anatole de Grunwald
- 1963 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- 1963 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actress
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