Lady L

Lady L

Directed by Peter Ustinov
Produced by Carlo Ponti
Screenplay by Peter Ustinov
Starring Sophia Loren
Paul Newman
David Niven
Music by Jean Françaix
Cinematography Henri Alekan
Edited by Roger Dwyre
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • 25 November 1965

(World Premiere, London)

Running time
 117 minutes
Country France
Italy
United Kingdom
Language English
Box office $2.7 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)[1]

Lady L is a 1965 comedy film based on the novel by Romain Gary and directed by Peter Ustinov. The film stars Sophia Loren, Paul Newman, David Niven and Cecil Parker,[2] and it focuses on an elderly Corsican lady recalls the loves of her life, including a Parisian aristocrat and an anarchist.

The film had its World Premiere at the Empire, Leicester Square in the West End of London on 25 November 1965.[3]

Plot

As she approaches her 80th birthday, the sophisticated and still attractive Lady Lendale recounts to her biographer, Sir Percy, the story of her life.

Fleeing her humble origins in Corsica, she traveled to Paris, where she found work in a brothel. There she falls in love with a thief and anarchist, Armand, and becomes pregnant by him. But before he can use a bomb to assassinate a Bavarian prince, she meets Lord Lendale, who is so enchanted by the young woman that he offers to overlook Armand's activities if she will agree to marry him.

Lady L becomes a woman of means, royalty and high society, and together she and Lord Lendale raise a large family. In the end, however, Lendale reveals their secret, that Lady L has continued to be the lover of Armand, who has fathered all their children while posing as the family's chauffeur.

Production

The film was a co-production between France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Castle Howard in Yorkshire was used for the shooting of some scenes.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ "Big Rental Pictures of 1966", Variety, 4 January 1967 p 8
  2. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059377/
  3. ↑ The Times 25/11/65, page 2