Directed by esteemed British director Anthony Asquith and starring Peter Sellers and Sophie Loren, 1960’s “The Millionairess” was a huge hit in Britain on initial release. Both actors were still establishing themselves as worldwide stars and the film helped to showcase Sellers chameleon-like character portrayals as well as Loren’s comedic abilities. Sellers would go on to become one of the decade’s most acclaimed comedy performers whilst Loren would have to wait just one year before winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in "Two Women".

 

Sellers completely immersed himself in roles, playing the characters that would appear on screen in real life, frequently for several months at a time. Here he stars as an Indian Doctor who falls in love with Loren as an arrogant and spoiled heiress. Behind the scenes Sellers was besotted with Loren, having only taken the role when he learned she was to be his co-star, and they developed a close relationship during filming. Future Beatles producer George Martin commissioned a comedy duet between the two stars singing in character, “Goodness Gracious Me” which became a UK hit later in the year. Unfortunately for Sellers, the lover affair went unrequited.

 

The colourful UK Quad is another fine piece of work designed and illustrated by Tom Chantrell, capturing the film’s breezy and care-free attitude brilliantly (for more information about Chantrell please visit www.chantrellposter.com). The film’s key selling points are on full display in the different imagery of the two leads. Loren’s voluptuous figure in her scantily-clad depiction is particularly striking whereas the intentionally simpler and less exotic Sellers illustration makes you fully aware of where most of the laughs will come from.

 

The same approach was used in the design for the US 1-Sheet for the film, shown below for comparison (courtesy of emovieposter.com). However, it may not be too controversial to suggest that the Quad represents a poster of somewhat higher artistic quality & appeal than it's american counterpart - it is certainly more collectable!

 

The poster has been linen-backed.