hyped garbage

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

If you are studying film or film creation, this is an excellent movie. One wishes that the storyboard was available to compare to the final product, but it is likely to be an exact match. There are several plots moving through the film, and it is a well done "soap opera", each frame is emotional. There is little tension that has become common in current digital films, just actors playing parts showing society at large. Heathrow is one of the actors by the way, this was entirely filmed (with the exception of the hotel rooms) at Heathrow in 1962/63. Brief green screen of the jet airliners shows off the inefficient jet exhaust systems in use at the time for the aero-techs. In one brief scene there is a shot of the 707 cockpit or more likely a simulator cockpit that had the feel for the tightness of a true cockpit, again for the aero-techie. Orson Welles appears to have simply shown up and was told to act normal. Maggie Smith is a wonderful actress playing against Rod Taylor. Scenes with 'Liz Taylor and Richard Burton also appeared to following the instruction: "Liz and Richard, just act normal when drinking." And they did. There is a 3D quality to the film in some shots that is amazing. But 1963 was a harsh year with excellent tools, productions and acting, the competition for best films was tight. Compared to the overly CGI movies of today, it is a piece of art that shows a part of society we normally didn't see. As to the "Airport" movie that was later produced, the fog was a gentle device compared to the battle against snow in "Airport" to keep the airplanes on the ground. If you are used to modern movies, you might want to split the viewing of this movie into a few days or it will bore you.

I have no idea how you came to The V.I.P.'s, whether it was following Margaret Rutherford or Orson Welles, both of who are funny in this, but I hope you didn't come for Liz and Dick, whose storyline most resembles a movie plot, but is a dull love triangle. The only value of this movie is in the generous time each of its cameo stars get. Orson Welles for instance has multiple scenes, maybe adding up to 15 minutes screen time, I'd be curious to calculate it. They are all little scenes, but add up to a decent amount of value for the Orson Welles completionist. He plays a probably gay film producer who talks like Akim Tamiroff and is having some kind of nebulous trouble with the film he's making. Margaret Rutherford is really fun. She has this kind of batty effortless humour to her. Louis Jordan is infuriating. Rod Taylor is a stereotypical aggressive Aussie, at least the accent is good, because its genuine! Check out Orson in The Southern Star (1969) for the worst Aussie accent I've ever heard. I could try and tell you The V.I.P.'s isn't that great of a movie, but you've clearly gone pretty deep in whatever it is you're interested in, you may as well check it out. For fans of Orson or Rutherford I'd say sure, add it to your collection.

Ultra high-gloss soap opera with such a great cast it's difficult to criticize it. Elizabeth Taylor is trying to leave tycoon husband Richard Burton for gigolo Louis Jourdan. They're fogged in at a London airport along with Orson Welles, Margaret Rutherford, Elsa Martinelli, Rod Taylor & Maggie Smith. Welles is a movie producer, Taylor is a businessman in trouble and Dame Rutherford is in financial straits. All gets resolved by the time the fog lifts. Rutherford won an Oscar and deserved it...she's a hoot. Burton & Taylor have genuine chemistry and Welles has a field day clearly goofing on all the bombastic movie types who gave him grief during his career. The production design, which is dynamite, is by William Kellner and there's an appropriately dramatic score by Miklós Rózsa. Director Anthony Asquith puts together a classy production, assisted greatly by a fine Terrence Rattigan screenplay.

rare to hear Rod Taylor with his actual Aussie accent soapyWhile this movie has a big-name cast (including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) and it quite nicely made, at heart it's very much a soap opera. The story consists of the lives of several passengers who are awaiting the departure of a British Air flight overseas. However, because of fog, the flight is delayed and various subplots involving the passengers are played out during this time. One involves a woman (Taylor) who is leaving her husband (Burton) for a gigolo (Louis Jourdan). Another, a daffy old duchess (Margaret Rutherford) whose secret is only revealed near the end of the film. And another, a businessman (Rod Taylor) who is on the edge of complete ruin and his secretary who secretly loves him (Maggie Smith). In many ways, this film plays like a well made episode of "Love Boat" or "Hotel" or an old flick like "Grand Hotel". This is not meant disparagingly--just a way to describe the way the plots are all interconnected and work through the course of the film. Well written (if a bit broad) and enjoyable. Not a brilliant film but one that you can't help but be pulled into as it unfolds.