X, Y and Zee (1972)
"Zee and Co." (original title)

The venomous and amoral wife of a wealthy architect tries, any way she can, to break up the blossoming romance between her husband and his new mistress; a good-natured young widow who holds a dark past.

Director:

Brian G. Hutton

Writer:

Edna O'Brien

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Susannah York

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Zee Blakeley
Michael Caine	...	Robert Blakeley
Susannah York	...	Stella
Margaret Leighton	...	Gladys
John Standing	...	Gordon
Mary Larkin	...	Rita
Michael Cashman	...	Gavin
Gino Melvazzi	...	Head Waiter

Storyline

Zee and Robert Blakeley are members of swinging London's upper crust whose unique love-hate marriage heads towards destruction when Robert falls in love with a beautiful young widow named Stella, and Zee goes through a series of scheming adventures to break Robert and Stella up.

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Plot Keywords:

architect | triangle | dysfunctional marriage | adultery | vulgarity | 

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Taglines:

An Absolute Ball

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

X, Y and Zee

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Zee Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Revolution"
Played by the Roy Young Band

User Reviews

Elizabeth Taylor shines in Comic tour de force.

Set in the swinging London scene of the early 1970's, the last gasp of the hippie era clashes with the chic international jet set. The result is this triangular jewel of a movie. Robert Blakeley (Michael Caine) is married to the glamorous, manic and barren Zee (Elizabeth Taylor). Intricate games and a few threads of love hold the marriage together. Into the volatile mix comes Stella, a younger woman who is on the edge and ready for a little shove. Michael Caine and Susannah York are great actors in any right. Mr. Caine particularly shines in this film. However in `X, Y and Zee' both actors are blown off the screen by an inspired comic performance by Elizabeth Taylor. Not often given the chance to play comedy she turns in a well-timed and poignantly funny performance in this Black Comedy of marriage, sexual confusion, and social boredom. It is sad that Miss Taylor was mostly relegated to dramas and not allowed often enough to stretch her comic wings. You can see flashes of her comic abilities in such odd fare as "Boom", "Reflections In A Golden Eye" and "Hammersmith Is Out!" But in this film she soars as a woman of wit and warmth who will stop at nothing to come out on top.