''Romanoff and Juliet'' is a 1961 American

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film adaptation of the play '' Romanoff and Juliet'', which was itself loosely based on '' Romeo and Juliet'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, released by

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

. Peter Ustinov wrote the screenplay, directed, and starred in the film. It co-starred

John Gavin John A. Gavin (born Juan Vincent Apablasa; April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018) was an American actor who was the president of the Screen Actors Guild (1971–73), and the United States Ambassador to Mexico (1981–86). Among the films he appeared ...

as Igor and

Sandra Dee Sandra Dee (born Alexandra Zuck; April 23, 1942 – February 20, 2005) was an American actress. Dee began her career as a child model, working first in commercials, and then film in her teenage years. Best known for her portrayal of ingén ...

as Juliet. The film was shot in Italy.

Plot

A vote in the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

is deadlocked. The deciding vote goes to the tiny, obscure European Republic of Concordia. Its president, known as the General ( Peter Ustinov), abstains from voting. To remedy the issue, ambassadors from the United States and Soviet Union attempt to win the General's favor. Juliet Moulsworth (

) and Igor Romanoff (

) meet at a party, not knowing that Juliet is the daughter of the American ambassador and Igor is the son of the Soviet ambassador. They instantly fall in love and spend the whole night talking. Before they part the next morning, they are distressed to discover each other's parentage. Juliet's fiancé, Freddie, writes to say he's coming to visit her in Concordia. Panicked, she confesses to her parents that she's not in love with Freddie, but rather with Igor. Her parents are shocked and horrified. Meanwhile, Igor is informed by his parents that they have arranged a marriage for him and the prospective bride will soon arrive. Igor informs them that he has fallen in love with Juliet and they react in a similar manner as Juliet's parents. Otto, an adviser to the General, fears that their small nation will be invaded should they continue to abstain from voting. Lacking any formal military, the two of them make an unconventional plan to save Concordia. They begin by intimidating the larger nations with a fake atomic bomb detonation. They follow this up by putting together a volunteer army out of patriotic civilians, complete with fake air raids and chaotic, nonsensical military exercises. A Soviet spy informs the General that Igor will kill himself if he cannot be with Juliet. The General hurries to Igor and stops the young man by promising he will see his beloved within the hour. The General goes to Juliet, who tells him she can't be with Igor for the sake of her parents. The General counters that she must listen to her own heart's desires. The General presides over a celebration of Concordia's history with the American and Soviet ambassadors and their wives in attendance. A seemingly fake marriage ceremony turns out to be a real one between Juliet and Igor, who have disguised themselves. They are wedded on the steps of a church by a Concordian priest. The General asks the ambassadors if they are ready to surrender to the inevitability of love, which they refuse. The General pretends to order a firing squad on the parents, only to reveal that Concordia has never made nor purchased ammunition. Dancing in the streets ensues. Igor asks the General how they can thank him. The General replies he should be thanking them, as they've proven love cannot be defeated. He will go to the United Nations to report on Concordia's victory.

Cast

* Peter Ustinov as The General *

as Juliet Moulsworth *

as Igor Romanoff * Akim Tamiroff as Vadim Romanoff *

Tamara Shayne Tamara Shayne (25 November 1902 – 23 October 1983), also known as Tamara Nikoulina, was a Russian-born actress and long-time resident in the United States. Early life Tamara Shayne was born Tamara Veniaminovna Olkenitskaya on 25 November 1902 i ...

as Evdokia Romanoff * Alix Talton as Beulah * Rik Van Nutter as Freddie * John Phillips as Hooper Moulsworth * Peter Jones as Otto *

Suzanne Cloutier Suzanne Cloutier (July 10, 1923 – December 2, 2003) was a Canadian film actress. Biography Daughter of Edmond Cloutier, the King's Printer in Ottawa, Suzanne Cloutier escaped an early unconsummated marriage to become an actress, first with Cha ...

as Marfa Zlotochienka

Awards

Ustinov was nominated for the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The win ...

at the

11th Berlin International Film Festival The 11th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 23 June to 4 July 1961. The Golden Bear was awarded to the Italian film ''La notte'' directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. Jury The following people were announced as being on the j ...

and the

Directors Guild of America The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is an entertainment guild that represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry and abroad. Founded as the Screen Directors Guild in 1936, the group merge ...

Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures.

References

External links

*
Page on film
at Sandradeefans.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Romanoff and Juliet 1961 films 1961 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films American political satire films American films based on plays Cold War films Films based on Romeo and Juliet Films directed by Peter Ustinov Films scored by Mario Nascimbene Films shot in Italy Films set in Europe Films set in a fictional country Universal Pictures films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films Soviet Union–United States relations