Romanoff and Juliet *** (1961, Peter Ustinov, Sandra Dee, John Gavin, Akim Tamiroff, Tamara Shayne, John Phillips) – Classic Movie Review 11,426

Director Peter Ustinov’s pleasant and satisfactory 1961 American Technicolor romantic comedy film Romanoff and Juliet is the screen version of his satirical play about American and Russian ambassadors (John Phillips and Akim Tamiroff) courting the mythical European state of Concordia, while their kids Juliet Moulsworth and Igor Romanoff (Sandra Dee, John Gavin) fall for each other à la Romeo and Juliet, with the help of The General of Concordia (Ustinov).

The film is a bit stagey, but not off-puttingly so. The Ustinov whimsical wit in the script and his own outsize star turn, as the man who turns out to have the casting vote at the United Nations, carry it through. Tamiroff is fun too as Vadim Romanoff, and so is Phillips as Hooper Moulsworth, though, alas, the handsome young people are insipid. The production went to Italy for lovely views, and director of photography Robert Krasker provides them unerringly.

Also in the cast are Tamara Shayne, John Phillips, Suzanne Cloutier, Alix Talton, Rik Van Nutter, Peter Jones, Edward Atienza, John Alderson, Thomas Chambers, Carl Don and Tonio Salwart.

It is made by Pavla Productions and released by Universal Pictures.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,426

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