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Zee and Co.

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5.8/10 • 25

1971-07-011h 50m

Drama

An Absolute Ball

The venomous and amoral wife of a wealthy architect tries, any way she can, to break up the blossoming romance between her husband and his new mistress; a good-natured young widow who holds a dark past.

Directors
Brian G. Hutton
Writters
Edna O'Brien
Editors
Edna O'Brien, Jim Clark

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Elizabeth Taylor

    Elizabeth Taylor

    Zee Blakeley

  2. Michael Caine

    Michael Caine

    Robert Blakeley

  3. Susannah York

    Susannah York

    Stella

  4. Margaret Leighton

    Margaret Leighton

    Gladys

  5. John Standing

    John Standing

    Gordon

  6. Mary Larkin

    Mary Larkin

    Rita

  7. Michael Cashman

    Michael Cashman

    Gavin

  8. Gino Melvazzi

    Gino Melvazzi

    Head Waiter

  9. Richard O'Brien

    Richard O'Brien

    Party Guest

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jan 8, 2025

7/10

All the time I was watching this, I couldn't help wonder if Elizabeth Taylor had real booze in her glass! She's the "Zee" from the title, married to architect "Robert" (Michael Caine) and living a life that's pretty unfulfilled. Initially they seem to be getting along nicely, but we quite quickly discover that is just a façade and that a tantrum is never far away - from either of them! Their tender equilibrium is shattered when he meets "Stella" (Susannah York). She might just offer him a more stable, loving and permanent route out of the marital maelstrom he lives in. "Zee" is having one of that. Can't live with him, sure, but won't live without him either. Definitely won't share. She sets about using every bit of guile in her arsenal to win him back and/or put her off. Meantime, the widowed "Stella" proves that she's not without her own baggage and that's not something she can rely on her new arch-enemy to be discreet about is she's not careful. I thought Taylor was on good form here, a very natural looking woman suffering from a combination of ennui, excessive wealth and an husband just as stultified as she has become. Her search for constant stimulation is well captured here as are her strops and her seductive flirtations. It's the other two who don't really turn up. Caine isn't at all natural, even when at his most playful and there's not a jot of chemistry between him and the ever-bland York. John Standing hams it up a bit now and then and Margaret Leighton does her best impersonation of Maria Antoinette as the supporting cast and many of the scenarios emphasise the luxurious pointlessness of her life. The writing can be vitriolic and sharp at times too ("Gone With the Wind" and "Cleopatra" both make their presence felt a little) and at it's best it's a lively and fiery effort from a star that I'd like to have seen do this on stage. Art imitating life intimidating art? I liked it.

Media

  • Zee and Co. poster
  • Zee and Co. poster
  • Zee and Co. poster
  • Zee and Co. poster
  • Zee and Co. poster
  • Zee and Co. poster
  • Zee and Co. poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
husband wife relationshipromance