Lady L

Actor-writer-director Peter Ustinov brings his eccentric comic genius to Romain Gary’s popular novel of rogues, anarchists and lovers in turn-of-the-century Europe. The result is a mad colourful extravaganza shaded with black...comedy, that is.

Adding spice to her customary beauty and splendid presence, Sophia Loren sparkles in the role of Louise. A simple laundress in a Paris bordello who, through a series of wildly unpredictable twists and turns of plot, ends up as the feared, revered—and bogus—Lady Lendale.

Academy Award winner Sophia Loren stars with Academy Award winner Paul Newman as the stunningly beautiful, charming and ribald Lady L.

At the end of a long, adventurous well-lived life, the Lady Lousie Lendale (Loren) tells the story of her rise from laundress to mistress of gambler and anarchist Armand Denis (Newman), who is trying to assassinate the senile Prince Otto (Ustinov), before she is to marry the suave aristocrat Lord "Dicky" Lendale (David Niven) in this sexy comedy.

Newman delivers a puckish performance as Armand, her anarchist lover, as deft with a bomb as he is with a kiss. And the marvelous Niven lends just the right touch of sadness to his portrayal of the charmingly roguish Lord Lendale.

Filmed against a palette of picturesque backgrounds all across Europe, Lady L stands out as a comedy of unusual style to be sipped, savored and enjoyed like a fine wine.