Waltz of the Toreadors (1962)

This is the end of a glorious military career: General Leo Fitzjohn retires to his Sussex manor where he will write his memoirs. Unfortunately, his private life is a disaster: a confirmed ... See full summary »

Director:

John Guillermin

Writers:

Jean Anouilh (play), Lucienne Hill (English translation),

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Dany Robin, Margaret Leighton

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Sellers	...	Gen. Leo Fitzjohn
Dany Robin	...	Ghislaine
Margaret Leighton	...	Emily Fitzjohn
John Fraser	...	Lt. Robert Finch
Cyril Cusack	...	Dr. Grogan
Prunella Scales	...	Estella Fitzjohn
Denise Coffey	...	Sidonia Fitzjohn
Jean Anderson	...	Agnes
Raymond Huntley	...	Ackroyd, Court President
Cardew Robinson	...	Midgley the Undertaker
John Glyn-Jones	...	Jenkins the Innkeeper
John Le Mesurier	...	Rev. Grimsley
Vanda Godsell	...	Mrs. Emma Bulstrode, Dress Shop Proprietor
Catherine Feller	...	Rosemary, the young maid

Storyline

This is the end of a glorious military career: General Leo Fitzjohn retires to his Sussex manor where he will write his memoirs. Unfortunately, his private life is a disaster: a confirmed womanizer, Leo has infuriated his wife Emily, now a shrewish and hypochondriac woman, all the more bitter as she still loves him. The General has two plain-looking daughters he dislikes and an attractive French mistress, Ghislaine, with whom he has had a platonic affair for seventeen years. When Ghislaine resurfaces, determined to complete her love with him and to get rid of Emily, Leo is at a loss what to do...

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Plot Keywords:

foreign language adaptation | based on play | independent film

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1962 (France)

Also Known As:

The Amorous General

Filming Locations:

Sussex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Artists, Julian Wintle/Leslie Parkyn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The names of many of the characters were changed for this film version of the play.

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Quotes

Mrs. Emma Bulstrode, Dress Shop Proprietor: We have to perform miracles to make beauties out of these girls.
Gen. Leo Fitzjohn: That's more than their mother could do.

User Reviews

A haunting, wonderful movie

This is a wonderful little movie which displays Peter Sellers's acting genius both for comedy and serious drama. It is a haunting story of a general at the end of his career, about how much was real and not real in his life, and about his weaknesses and distractions. It is easy to project certain kinds of political observations on to this movie, as was done in an earlier review by wjfickling in his comment about the advantages that men have over women, but it is just as easy to project the opposite. The genius of the movie is that it tells a story of the bitter sweetness of a man's life that is outside the politcally correct "truth du jour" and can be taken directly, as it is.