THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE

UK, 1965, 122 minutes, Colour.
Episode 1: Rex Harrison, Jeanne Moreau, Edmund Purdom, Moira Lister, Gregoire Asian, Roland Culver, Michael Hordern, Lance
Percival.
Episode 2: Shirley Mac Laine, George C. Scott, Alain Delon, Art Carney.
Episode 3: Ingrid Bergman, Omar Shariff, Joyce Grenfell.
Directed by Anthony Asquith.

The Yellow Rolls Royce is exceedingly elegant, enjoyable and satisfying entertainment. A vintage Rolls Royce provides the link for the episodes of comedy and light drama written by playwright Terence Rattigan (whose screenplays of The Browning Version, The Winslow Boy and The V.I.P.'s were also directed by Anthony Asquith).

The first story is probably the best, typical Rex Harrison Edwardian comedy that becomes most moving and serious at the end. In fact, this is the pattern of each story: laughs at first and then emotional distress for Shirley Mac Laine in the second story and Ingrid Bergman in the third. The whole film has a light touch which makes its characters acceptable and interesting.

1. Why was this an entertaining film? What contributed most to its success - the stars, the stories, the settings and costumes, the human interest, the variety?

2. Was the Rolls Royce itself important for the film or was it merely the link for the stories? How interesting to reflect on how many people some in contact with, say, a car over a period of years and the stories that can be told about them?

3. Which episode was best? Why? Least? Why?

4. Each of the episodes began humorously and finished with a great deal of human feeling and insight. How effectively was this done in each case?

5. What was the point of the first episode? the satire on the English and their politics; the grand, social life and the races?

6. How was the relationship between the Foreign Minister and his wife presented? Why did she have an affair with the secretary? (What kind of man was he ?)

7. What was the effect of Angela's catty gossip on the Minister?

8. How were the excitement of the win and the sorrow of his discovery played off against each other in the film?

9. What else would the couple do at the end?

10. Insight into the character and feelings of his Lordship at the end of hie story? Were you moved?

11. How were Americans satirised in the second episode - the gangsters, the girl's lack of interest and Paolo's efforts at culture?

12. Was Stephane presented as a stock character or was he developed as a real personality?

13. What was the relationship between Paolo and his fidanzata? Was there any love?

14. Why did the girl seek out Stephane? Hid he really love her and she him? Why did she hurt him and break off their love (and the effect of Paolo hearing it)? How had she changed by the end of the episode? Did you find this episode moving?

15. How were the Americans satirised in the third episode? What kind of person did Mrs. Millett represent (and her companion)?

16. Was she just a caricature or did she have some personality? Was the resistance leader a stock character?

17. How did the contrast between Mrs Millett at dinner during the air raid and Mrs Millett helping the wounded, work in the film?

18. Were the resistance scenes in the mountains effective? What kind of relationship developed between Mrs Millett and Mr Darvich?

19. How had Mrs Millett changed by the end of the episode?

20. Was this a happy film or a sad one?