Romanoff And Juliet (1961)

While tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union rise, in the small European republic of Concordia, its President (Peter Ustinov) decides to play matchmaker to the American ambassador's daughter (Sandra Dee) and the Russian ambassador's son (John Gavin). Written and directed by Ustinov from his 1956 play, this is yet another film that shows nothing dates faster than topicality. While all the U.S. vs. Russians humor was very current and newsworthy at the time, today the jokes have all the relevance of a Bob Hope monologue on one of his 1960s TV specials. Take away the jokes and you're left with an anemic loose updating of Shakespeare's tale of two young lovers from opposing families. There are still sporadic moments like a family dinner in the Soviet ambassador's home where everyone is paranoid about spying on each other that bring a few chuckles but mostly it just fizzles. In a bit of irony, Gavin who plays the Russian ambassador's son eventually became the U.S. ambassador to Mexico during the Reagan administration. With Akim Tamiroff, Alix Talton, Tamara Shayne, Rik Van Nutter (THUNDERBALL) and Suzanne Cloutier (Mrs. Ustinov at the time).