Watch The V.I.P.s

The V.I.P.s is a 1963 drama film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Louis Jourdan. The film is set in London's Heathrow Airport, where a group of important and wealthy individuals are stranded due to fog, and their personal and professional lives intersect and collide. The film starts with an ensemble cast of characters waiting in the airport departure lounge, including a wealthy American widow, Frances Andros (Elizabeth Taylor), a film star, Max Buda (Richard Burton), a famous businessman, Julius Sagamore (Louis Jourdan), a countess, and a British aristocrat, among others. These individuals have in common their wealth, power, and influence, but they also share something else; they are all trying to escape their problems.

Frances is in the midst of a bitter divorce, while Max is running away from the IRS. Julius is struggling to keep his company afloat, while the British aristocrat is fleeing a scandal. They all need to leave London urgently, and their flights are cancelled due to the heavy fog that has engulfed the airport.

As they all become stranded, their stories begin to overlap, and their personal dramas unfold. Frances, who is traveling with her young son, is immediately attracted to Max, who is traveling with his girlfriend and secretary, Gloria Gritti (Elsa Martinelli). Max's charm is difficult to resist, and soon Frances and Max are caught in a passionate affair.

Meanwhile, Julius is desperately trying to get his business back on track, but he is struggling to secure a critical loan that will save his company from bankruptcy. The British aristocrat, on the other hand, is grappling with a crisis of conscience and decides to confess his wrongdoing to his wife.

As the hours tick by, the tension and drama escalate. Julia, Julius's estranged wife, arrives at the airport and tries to seduce Max, hoping to use her charms to secure the loan that Julius needs. Gloria is angry and jealous, while Frances is heartbroken when she realizes that Max cannot leave his girlfriend.

The V.I.P.s is a classic example of 1960s melodrama, with its over-the-top plot, glamorous stars, and sumptuous sets. The film was a huge commercial success and received several award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Maggie Smith, who played the young typist working at the airport. However, the film's true stars were Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who were also real-life lovers at the time. Their chemistry on screen was palpable, and their scenes together were some of the most memorable in the film.

Overall, The V.I.P.s is a stylish and entertaining drama that captures the glamour, intrigue, and desperation of the jet set. It is a classic example of 1960s British cinema and a must-see for fans of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

The V.I.P.s is a 1963 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 51.