Main Cast: Peter Ustinov, Sandra Dee, John Gavin, Akim Tamiroff, Suzanne Cloutier, Alix Talton
Release Year: 1961
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
Plot
Peter Ustinov went the auteur route as writer, director, producer, and star of this Cold War farce, based on his play and very similar to the equally well-regarded The Mouse That Roared (1959). Ustinov is "the general," leader of the tiny European nation Concordia, which is so small that it does not appear on any maps, and each government employee holds two positions (the general's chauffeur is also ambassador to the U.S.). Despite its diminutive size, Concordia is a full-fledged member of the United Nations. A vote on an important measure is split evenly, with Concordia getting the deciding vote, so the general abstains and goes home, giving fits to the U.S. and U.S.S.R., Cold War rivals which are on opposing sides of the issue. A campaign of persuasion is launched to sway Concordia to one side or another, but the canny general wants to keep his country neutral, so he schemes to introduce the Russian ambassador's son Igor Romanoff (John Gavin) to Juliet Moulsworth (Sandra Dee), the daughter of the U.S. representative. Shakespearean-style romance between the two attractive young people inevitably ensues, much to the chagrin of their home countries and the general's delight. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
Romanoff and Juliet is a small film with modest pleasures. Perhaps its undeniable charm is a bit too mild for many people, but for those who appreciate a clever film that delicately blends both romance and satire will find Romanoff quite winning. It has its faults, to be sure. For example, its pacing is sometimes a bit off, and while it has definitely been opened up for the big screen, there are moments when its stage origins are unmistakable. And while Peter Ustinov certainly knows how to direct his actors, he's not always the most cinematic of directors, even with the excellent Robert Krasker on photographic duty. Romanoff's brand of satire is also not to everyone's taste, being of a fairly gentle nature rather than scathing in tone. But for many, these defects are secondary to the witty dialogue, the carefully set up situations, the shrewd observations, and the skillful plotting. Then there's the cast, lead by the wonderful Ustinov himself but also featuring a surprisingly strong performance from Sandra Dee, a surprisingly decent one from John Gavin, and a scene-stealing one from Suzanne Cloutier. Ultimately, Romanoff's blemishes keep it from being a great film, but it's still a joyous one. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
John Phillips - Hooper Moulsworth; Peter Jones - Otto; Tamara Shayne - Evdokia Romanoff; Edward Atienza - Patriarch; John Alderson - Randle Wix; Thomas Chalmers - Chief Executive; Carl Don - Spy; Tonio Selwart - U.N. President; Renato Chiantoni - Joseph the Pilot; Booth Colman - Customs Officer; Moura Budberg - Cook; Rick van Nutter - Freddie; Richard McNamara - A General; Strelsa Brown
