Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Statue

  • 19711971
  • RR
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
277
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Statue (1971)
  • Comedy
Bolt, a British linguist, develops a universal language, so he's a sudden sensation and receives a Nobel Prize. An ambitious diplomat who is capitalizing on Bolt's celebrity arranges for the... Read allBolt, a British linguist, develops a universal language, so he's a sudden sensation and receives a Nobel Prize. An ambitious diplomat who is capitalizing on Bolt's celebrity arranges for the U.S. to commission a statue for a London square to honor Bolt's achievement. Bolt's Itali... Read allBolt, a British linguist, develops a universal language, so he's a sudden sensation and receives a Nobel Prize. An ambitious diplomat who is capitalizing on Bolt's celebrity arranges for the U.S. to commission a statue for a London square to honor Bolt's achievement. Bolt's Italian wife, a renowned artist, sculpts an 18-foot nude of him. In a pique because he's neglec... Read all
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
277
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rod Amateau
  • Writers
    • Alec Coppel(screenplay)
    • Denis Norden(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • David Niven
    • Virna Lisi
    • Robert Vaughn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rod Amateau
  • Writers
    • Alec Coppel(screenplay)
    • Denis Norden(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • David Niven
    • Virna Lisi
    • Robert Vaughn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos20

    The Statue (1971)
    David Niven in The Statue (1971)
    Robert Vaughn in The Statue (1971)
    David Niven and Robert Vaughn in The Statue (1971)
    Robert Vaughn in The Statue (1971)
    David Niven in The Statue (1971)
    David Niven and Virna Lisi in The Statue (1971)
    David Niven in The Statue (1971)
    Virna Lisi in The Statue (1971)
    John Cleese in The Statue (1971)
    John Cleese in The Statue (1971)
    David Niven and Virna Lisi in The Statue (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Alex Boltas Alex Bolt
    Virna Lisi
    Virna Lisi
    • Rhonda Boltas Rhonda Bolt
    Robert Vaughn
    Robert Vaughn
    • Ray Whiteleyas Ray Whiteley
    Ann Bell
    Ann Bell
    • Pat Demarestas Pat Demarest
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Harryas Harry
    Tim Brooke-Taylor
    Tim Brooke-Taylor
    • Hillcrestas Hillcrest
    Hugh Burden
    Hugh Burden
    • Sir Geoffreyas Sir Geoffrey
    Erik Chitty
    Erik Chitty
    • Mouseras Mouser
    Derek Francis
    Derek Francis
    • Sandersas Sanders
    Susan Travers
    Susan Travers
    • Mrs. Southwickas Mrs. Southwick
    Desmond Walter-Ellis
    • Mr. Southwickas Mr. Southwick
    David Allister
    • Mr. Westburyas Mr. Westbury
    Maureen Lane
    • Mrs. Westburyas Mrs. Westbury
    David Mills
    • Mr. Eustonas Mr. Euston
    Zoe Sallis
    Zoe Sallis
    • Mrs. Eustonas Mrs. Euston
    Mircha Carven
    • Joachimas Joachim
    Christopher Cruise
    • Intervieweras Interviewer
    • (as Christoper Cruize)
    Aldo De Carellis
    • Martinelloas Martinello
    • Director
      • Rod Amateau
    • Writers
      • Alec Coppel(screenplay) (based on the play 'Chip Chip Chip' by)
      • Denis Norden(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon
    7.0
    Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon
    Better Late Than Never
    5.7
    Better Late Than Never
    Cagliostro
    6.6
    Cagliostro
    Son of Hitler
    5.2
    Son of Hitler
    Un amore così fragile, così violento
    4.9
    Un amore così fragile, così violento
    La signora è stata violentata
    5.2
    La signora è stata violentata
    King, Queen, Knave
    5.5
    King, Queen, Knave
    The Christmas Tree
    6.3
    The Christmas Tree
    The Impossible Years
    5.6
    The Impossible Years
    Bittersweet Love
    4.4
    Bittersweet Love
    Winter of Our Dreams
    6.2
    Winter of Our Dreams
    Stateline Motel
    5.3
    Stateline Motel

    Storyline

    Edit
    Bolt, a British linguist, develops a universal language, so he's a sudden sensation and receives a Nobel Prize. An ambitious diplomat who is capitalizing on Bolt's celebrity arranges for the U.S. to commission a statue for a London square to honor Bolt's achievement. Bolt's Italian wife, a renowned artist, sculpts an 18-foot nude of him. In a pique because he's neglected her for years to do his work, she gives the statue a spectacular phallus and tells Bolt that he wasn't its model. Thinking he's a cuckold, Bolt goes on a jealous search for a man matching the statue. The diplomat also wants changes in the statue to protect his conservative image. Can art and love be reconciled? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • new language
    • universal language
    • jaguar e type
    • female sculptor
    • on the scene reporter
    • 72 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Dedicated to the proposition that all men are not created equal.
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Virna Lisi had to be absent from the set until she recovered from a case of measles.
    • Goofs
      When the fig leaf falls off the statue at 52:30, nothing is hidden behind it; it has already been sawed off.
    • Quotes

      Alex Bolt: [In bed with his wife after a long time apart] I've been waiting to do this for a long time.

      Rhonda Bolt: Then do it for a long time.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Fleshpot on 42nd Street (1973)
    • Soundtracks
      SKIN Sequence
      Lyrics by Audrey Nohra

      Music by Luis Bacalov

      Performed by Tony & The Graduates (uncredited)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Size matters.
    Alex Coppel is best known for his marvellous screenplay to 'Captain's Paradise' and his 'contribution' to 'Vertigo'. By all accounts he wrote a play called 'Chip, chip, chip.' One wonders where it was staged, if at all and who was in it!

    He and Denis Norden have adapted it for this film directed by someone named Rod Amateau, an ex-stunt double most of whose directorial work was confined to the wonderful world of television.

    Professor Alex Bolt is shocked to discover that the penis on the eighteen foot statue done of him by his renowned sculptress wife which is about to go on public display is decidedly not his own. He then embarks on an odyssey to discover whose amazing appendage it is and consequently behaves like a perfect dick, if you'll pardon the pun.

    The actual premiss of the film is amusing and it begins rather well but alas quickly degenerates into an infantile, puerile and embarassing mess with the occasional funny line.

    The outraged husband is played by David Niven who didn't make a decent film post 1963. Cinema goers tend only to remember the good ones which is just as well but as always he is saved by his immense charm. Robert Vaughn convinces as a slimy, opportunistic politician and as the sculptress Virna Lisi's smoky voice makes this viewer go weak at the knees. John Cleese is his customary forced, one-dimensional self. Ann Bell is haughty but naughty as Niven's assistant.

    A fellow reviewer has very astutely noted a possible connection between this plot and the infamous Argyll divorce case of the early 1960's. The identity of the 'headless man' in the incriminating polaroid has never been truly established. It certainly wasn't Niven but by an amazing coincidence he had slept with the future 'Dirty Duchess' of Argyll when she was just fifteen which resulted in a secretly and speedily aborted pregnancy and they remained good friends until his death. Messrs. Coppel and Norden may or may not have drawn inspiration from the high society scandal but if they did the irony would certainly not have been lost on Mr. Niven.

    The ultimate absurdity is when Niven's character discovers that the offending part has been copied from Michelangelo's 'David'. Although one of the greatest works of Renaissance sculpture, its genitalia is, in my humble opinion, nothing to write home about!

    All-in-all a rather silly film that comes up short!
    helpful•3
    1
    • brogmiller
    • Jan 17, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1971 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Statue
    • Filming locations
      • Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production company
      • Josef Shaftel Productions Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $220,766
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Related news

    DVD Playhouse--November 2011
    Nov 25The Hollywood Interview

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Statue (1971)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for The Statue (1971)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.