The Millionairess

19601960
1h 30min

A millionairess and a doctor cannot marry until they meet conditions set up by their respective parents.A millionairess and a doctor cannot marry until they meet conditions set up by their respective parents.A millionairess and a doctor cannot marry until they meet conditions set up by their respective parents.

5.5/10

1.8K

Director
- Anthony Asquith
Writers
- George Bernard Shaw(play "The Millionairess")
- Riccardo Aragno(adaptation)
- Wolf Mankowitz(screenplay)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

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Awards
- 1 nomination total

Peter Sellers in The Millionairess (1960)

Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers in The Millionairess (1960)

London-based millionairess Epifania (Sophia Loren) is attracted to Dr. Kabir (MD from Delhi and PhD from Calcutta), who is more intent on treating patients. When she persists, he confides in her that he had made a commitment to his late widowed seamstress mother that he will wed any woman who will manage to survive on just Rs.500/-, for 90 days. She finds out that this sum is equivalent to just 35 shillings but readily accepts this challenge. She also informs him that her late father had also imposed a condition that she must wed a male who will turn £500 into £15000 within the same period. Epifania then finds employment with an Italian firm, ends up re-organizing, and turning up the firm's profits. At the end of 90 days, she goes to meet Kabir and discovers that he has not only given all the money away but also has no interest whatsoever in marrying her. —rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

river thames london england love italian indian 16 more

Taglines
- The Racy Revelations of the Richest Girl in the World...And Her Wild, Wonderful Ways!
Genres
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren recorded the novelty song "Goodness Gracious Me!" in order to promote the movie. The song became a big worldwide hit.

Quotes
Dr. Ahmed el Kabir: [sailing across the Thames to his surgery, noticing Epifania attempting suicide] Hello, good day for a swim!
Epifania Parerga: I am not swimming, I am committing suicide
Dr. Ahmed el Kabir: Very good
Epifania Parerga: You don't understand, I'm killing myself
Dr. Ahmed el Kabir: Well, it is our common destiny, good day

Crazy credits
The end of the film finishes with 'And they lived happily ever after'.

Connections
Featured in Film Preview: Episode #1.3 (1966)

Top review

Inexcusably undecided comedy or romance

A familiar topic, the love/hate romance, is portrayed as an at times wacky comedy and at times an intense star-crossed romantic drama. Although the concept of romantic comedy has been done well many times, this is not one of them. The combining of the two genres is poorly done and inexcusable.

Bizarrely, the wackiness comes mainly from scenery and editing, not Peter Sellers. There are jump flash scenes at the end that are out of place anywhere but a Doris Day comedy. Scenes of the Millionairess' 'throne' room and board who apparently manage her fortune are equally out of place.

The film is redeemed only by a few somber lines delivered by Peter Sellers that are poignant and quotable, and the lovely Sophia Loren who is a vision in every scene.

Pieces of the story line are touching and reminiscent of 'The Gift of the Magi.' Unfortunately, sifting through the rest of the film to find these treasures is hardly worth the effort.

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