The V.I.P.s

1963

The V.I.P.s (1963)

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AUDIENCE SCORE

44%

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Movie Info

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

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Cast

Elizabeth Taylor
as Frances Andros
Richard Burton
as Paul Andros
Louis Jourdan
as Marc Champselle
Rod Taylor
as Les Mangam
Elsa Martinelli
as Gloria Gritti
Margaret Rutherford
as Duchess of Brighton
Maggie Smith
as Miss Mead
Orson Welles
as Max Buda
Linda Christian
as Miriam
Dennis Price
as Cmdr. Millbank
Richard Wattis
as Sanders
Ronald Fraser
as Joslin
David Frost
as Reporter
Robert Coote
as John Coburn
Joan Benham
as Miss Potter
Michael Hordern
as Airport Director
Lance Percival
as BOAC Official
Martin Miller
as Dr. Schwutzbacher
Peter Sallis
as Doctor
Stringer Davis
as Hotel Waiter
Clifton Jones
as Jamaican Passenger
Terry Alexander
as Captain
Moyra Fraser
as Air Hostess
Raymond Austin
as Rolls Chauffeur
Jill Carson
as Air Hostess
Joyce Carey
as Mrs. Damer
Peter Illing
as Mr. Damer
Griffiths Davis
as Porter
Richard Caldicot
as Hotel Representative
Maggie McGrath
as Waitress
Frank Williams
as Assistant to Airport Director
Rosemary Dorken
as Airport Announcer
Pamela Buckley
as Airport Announcer
Ray Austin
as Rolls Chauffeur
Angus Lennie
as Meteorological Man
Duncan Lewis
as Hotel Receptionist
Richard Briers
as Meteorological Official
Terence Alexander
as Captain
Richard Caldicott
as Hotel Representative
Jo Ann Castle
as Lady Reporter
Clifford Mollison
as Mr. River the Hotel Manager
Gordon Sterne
as Official
Reginald Beckwith
as Head Waiter
John Blythe
as Barman
Virginia Bedard
as Visitor
Lewis Fiander
as (uncredited) Third Reporter
Cal McCord
as Visitor
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Critic Reviews for The V.I.P.s

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (1)

Uneven, trite and uninspired in the dialogue and situations involving the various lovers, brilliantly funny and touching in Miss Rutherford's sequences. The result of this is that Miss Rutherford, doughty, indomitable, makes the picture her own.

Sep 19, 2018 | Full Review…
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic

Trying to shoehorn a talent ensemble into a trite premise results in unmitigated failure.

Aug 15, 2011 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…
Cinema Sight

An all-cast star succeeds in camouflaging the thin plot of this adventure-disaster flick

Apr 22, 2011 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
EmanuelLevy.Com

It's jet-set entertainment for celebrity watchers and those who will watch anything while a passenger in air flight.

Jan 16, 2007 | Rating: C- | Full Review…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Nothing's indicted here, just indulged.

Jan 15, 2007 | Rating: 0.5/4 | Full Review…
Film Freak Central
View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for The V.I.P.s

A great cast. Just okay movie.

Sunil Jawahir
Sunil Jawahir

Super Reviewer

lush, plush silly but fun. Maggie Smith and Margaret Rutherford are excellent

jay nixon
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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