Another over-produced dud for Sophia Loren from movie-mogul husband Carlo Ponti. (His creative energies must have been going into DOCTOR ZHIVAGO that year.) Adapted as a lux romp by Peter Ustinov (he writes, directs, dubs & cameos), Romain Gary’s bestseller on exuberant turn-of-the-last-century laundress Loren who gets in over her head in political affairs (much like her MADAME SANS GÊNE/’61) when she’s mistaken for a bawd at a bawdy house by anarchist-on-the-run Paul Newman. Hiding from authorities; bombing theaters; getting the current ‘Party Line’ at clandestine cell meetings; it might just play if only there were some romantic spark between Loren & Newman. (Per Ustinov, instant antipathy on and off set.) Fortunately, halfway in, David Niven appears as a Duke on the hunt for spouse & heir; finds both in Loren (literally, she’s already pregnant); and helps Newman escape to gain Loren’s hand in marriage. Niven can’t do much for Ustinov’s epigrammatic clunkers or clear out the extras clogging the frame in yards of fabric, but at least he knows how to play the dialogue, tossing wise counsel & witticisms over his shoulder like spilt salt while Newman stomps on them and Sophia covers with a one-size-fits-all smile. ( . . . and that size is LARGE.)
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: One truly funny line to savor. Upon hearing of a morning duel between the Prime Minister and a cabinet member: ‘Well, it is a coalition government.’
WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK: *Ustinov directed only a handful of features. Best by far, the one he’d made most recently: BILLY BUDD/’62. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/05/billy-budd-1962.html
CONTEST: Newman repeats a suspenseful set piece from this film in next year’s TORN CURTAIN/’66. Name the situation to win a MAKSQUIBS Write-Up of a streamable film of your choice.
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