The V.I.P.s (1963)

44% of users liked it
(712 ratings)

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… More 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

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Anthony Asquith
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 19, 1963 Wide
On DVD: Dec 5, 2006

Critic Reviews

Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy
Trying to shoehorn a talent ensemble into a trite premise results in unmitigated failure.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
An all-cast star succeeds in camouflaging the thin plot of this adventure-disaster flick
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's jet-set entertainment for celebrity watchers and those who will watch anything while a passenger in air flight.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Nothing's indicted here, just indulged.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

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

A great cast. Just okay movie.

Cast

            Elizabeth Taylor as Frances Andros

            Richard Burton as Paul Andros

            Louis Jourdan as Marc Champselle

            Margaret Rutherford as Duchess of Brighton

            Elsa Martinelli as Gloria Gritti

            Maggie Smith as Miss Mead

            Rod Taylor as Les Mangrum

            Orson Welles as Max Buda

            Linda Christian as Miriam Marshall

            Dennis Price as Commander Millbank

            Richard Wattis as Sanders

            Ronald Fraser as Joslin

            David Frost as Reporter

            Joan Benham as Miss Potter

            Michael Hordern as Airport Director

            Lance Percival as B.O.A.C. Officer

            Martin Miller as Dr. Schwutzbacher

            Peter Sallis as Doctor

            Stringer Davis as Hotel Waiter

            Clifton Jones as Jamaican Passenger

            Moyra Fraser as Air Hostess

            Terry Alexander as Captain

            Reginald Beckwith as Head Waiter

            John Blythe as Barman

            Richard Briers as Meteorological Official

            Richard Caldicot as Hotel Representative

            Joyce Carey as Mrs. Damer

            Robert Coote as John Coburn

            Peter Illing as Mr. Damer

            Angus Lennie as Meteorological Man

            Clifford Mollison as Mr. River the Hotel Manager

            Gordon Sterne as Official

            Frank Williams as Assistant to Airport Director

            Raymond Austin as Rolls Chauffeur

            Jo Ann Castle as Lady Reporter

            Maggie McGrath as Waitress

            Virginia Bedard
            
            Jill Carson as Air Hostesses

            Rosemary Dorken
            
            Duncan Lewis as Hotel Receptionist

            Cal McCord as Visitor

            Lewis Fiander as (uncredited) Third Reporter

            Jack Hildyard
            
See full cast