The Millionairess (1972)

The richest woman (Maggie Smith) in England is unhappy in her marriage to a professional tennis player and boxer (James Villiers). Brought up in wealth, she believes money gives her power and buys anything. When she meets a poverty stricken Egyptian doctor (Tom Baker) who catches her fancy, she decides to divorce her husband and marry him. However, her wealth doesn't impress the doctor in the least. Based on the 1936 play by George Bernard Shaw and directed by Cedric Messina. The success of this chatty piece rests on the shoulders of the actress playing the lead (Katharine Hepburn had a great success in London and New York in the part) and here, Maggie Smith shines. No one does imperious and haughty better than her and Smith sashays in her furs tossing off Shaw's witticisms impeccably. Without a "Star" performance to cover, the play's faults glare out at you and you realize it's a rather glacial piece with a hollow heart at its center and only intermittently amusing at best. With Charles Gray, Priscilla Morgan, Donald Pickering and Peter Barkworth.