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The Millionairess
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Directed by Anthony Asquith
A beautiful and wealthy woman in the market for a husband believes she has found the right man -- only to discover he isn't especially interested, in this comedy based on a play by George Bernard Shaw. Epifania Parerga (Sophia Loren) is a woman who has inherited a vast fortune, making her the wealthiest woman on Earth. All Parerga really wants is a happy marriage, but her first stab at matrimony, with Alastair (Gary Raymond), is a disaster, and when she visits a psychiatrist in hopes of learning what she did wrong, her analyst, Dr. Adrian (Dennis Price), attempts to seduce her. Parerga is nearly ready to give up when she meets Dr. Ahmed el Kabir) (Peter Sellers), a shy and well-mannered Indian physician who operates a clinic for the underprivileged. While Kabir is personable, he seems to have no interest in Parerga's money and is unfazed by her beauty; convinced he can love her simply for who she is, Parerga decides Kabir is the man for her. However hard Parerga tries to throw herself at him, Kabir refuses to budge, and even after she bankrolls a new clinic for him, he does not respond to her advances. Eventually, Parerga offers Kabir a challenge -- she bets him that he can't triple his profits at his new clinic in three months, while he in turn wagers her that she cannot live without money for the same period of time. A spin-off of the The Millionairess was a novelty song called "Goodness Gracious Me", in which Sellers and Loren duetting as a doctor from India and his alluring patient; a recording of the tune became a hit single in the United Kingdom. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
liked it.
The Millionairess has some considerable flaws, many of which will irritate George Bernard Shaw purists, but it has enough that is right about it that most audiences will be more than willing to overlook its failings. The biggest problem lies in the actress portraying the title character. There is no doubt that Sophia Loren is one of the most stunning performers ever to grace the screen. Nor is there any doubt that, in her prime, she possessed a rare charisma and a considerable amount of talent. Unfortunately, Loren's natural fieriness and sensuality work against her in this part, which requires righteous rage rather than fire and a cooler sexiness than Loren possesses. Still, she has moments that are excellent and, in her exquisite Pierre Balmain costumes, looks absolutely stunning. There are problems with the screenplay as well, which is a trifle schizophrenic. That which has been faithfully adapted from Shaw works very well, as does that which is clearly screenwriter Wolf Mankowitz's work -- but the two don't blend very well. These defects aside, The Millionairess is a delight, with exceptional work from Peter Sellers (who brings a warmth and humanity to the role that will surprise those who know him from his broad comedy parts) and a wonderfully oily Alastair Sim. Anthony Asquith has directed with wit and style, and the result is quite engaging. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

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