A Touch of Class

Synopsis: American Steve Blackburn, in the insurance business, is married with two kids. Vickie Allessio, a self described design "stealer" for a knockoff fashion house, is a recent divorcée with two kids. Steve and Vickie are running into each other more and more in their day to day lives in London before even knowing who the other is, which suits them both fine, as when they do finally officially meet, Steve is up front that he wants to have an affair with her, Steve who has had affairs in the past whenever his wife Gloria, who is from old money, isn't around which is currently the case as she is in the States visiting her parents. Vickie, in turn, is up front that she is amenable to a no-strings affair with him under specific circumstances, namely that it be at least a classy short term affair, meaning no cheap motels, and preferably a weekend away somewhere warm. Able to arrange a business trip to Málaga, Spain, for a week, Steve convinces Vickie to change their agreed weekend to a week and
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Director(s): Melvin Frank
Production: Media Home Entertainment
  Won 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 10 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.5
Rotten Tomatoes:
91%
PG
Year:
1973
106 min
328 Views


Thataway, yes, sir! That's one.

Let's go, boy. Let's go, baby.

Come on. Check to him.

- Safe.

- Flex it. Come on.

Pitch it in.

Run!

Fair ball.

Fair ball?

That ball was foul, you blind son of a b*tch!

It was that side of the tree.

By 5 yards that ball was foul.

What the hell do we have a tree for?

Why do we have a damn tree

if the ball falls 5 yards that side of it...

...and you still call it fair?

Give me my ball, lady.

Give me my kid, mister.

If you've finished trampling on him.

Right.

Thank you.

Come on. There you go, pal.

- You all right?

- Now can I have my ball?

- What?

- You're holding my ball.

Your ball?

- Thanks.

- Anytime.

What about your ball? Come on.

Taxi!

Taxi!

- Share it?

- Why not?

Where to?

- Where to?

- 80 Grosvenor Street, please.

Lady's going to 80 Grosvenor Street.

I'll be going on.

- That is exactly 60 pence with the tip.

- Forget it.

It's the right amount.

I take this trip every day.

- Not necessary.

- How kind.

I'll buy a house in the country.

- Terrible weather.

- Filthy.

If you live in London, you have to expect it.

Do you live in London?

- I do.

- Me, too.

- Really?

- Five years.

Practically English.

- Last habitable city in the world, isn't it?

- Yes.

You do anything you like.

Nobody bothers you.

- My name is Steven Blackburn.

- Vickie Allessio.

- It sounds Italian.

- It's my husband's name.

Were those your kids in the park?

- Yes.

- Nice-looking boys.

- Thank you, but one of the boys is a girl.

- I see.

I suppose your husband

likes to sleep late on Sundays.

Yes, he does.

You like to go home

and cook him a nice big breakfast.

No.

- Don't you like to cook?

- I love it.

- Doesn't he like to eat?

- He loves to eat.

- I don't understand.

- We have different kitchens.

His is in Milan.

That's a shame.

Please don't cry. He found another cook.

- Thank you very much.

- Mrs. Allessio?

You have a very good memory.

- What about tea?

- When?

- Tomorrow?

- Fine.

The Churchill.

Great. See you then.

- What time?

- 4:
00.

It won't break up your day?

Don't cross-examine me in the rain.

I'll be there wet, but I'll be there.

- Just a second, Derek.

- Good afternoon.

- Lunch tomorrow?

- We haven't had tea yet.

If I can change one appointment,

I can be clear, okay?

Do you only eat and drink? I know nothing

but your name and that you play baseball.

From the way you played,

it's obviously not your career.

I'm in insurance. I'm married.

I live close to where Disraeli lived.

I have two kids and I'm a Leo.

Now, what about lunch tomorrow?

We should see how tea goes.

See how tea goes?

I'll talk to you later, Derek.

- Who's Derek?

- My male secretary.

Tea for two, please.

- What do you do?

- I'm in the rag trade.

- Buy or sell?

- I steal.

- Steal?

- I do, truly.

I steal designs from people like Dior,

Cardin, and Givenchy.

I send them to my boss,

Mr. Sam Fingleman of New York...

...who makes them up in cheap materials

and brings the rue St. Honor to Kline's.

- Sounds like very creative work.

- Thank you.

- Where'd you learn? Paris?

- No, Italy.

- I took a course in Milan.

- Enter Mr. Allessio.

- Yes.

- Also in the rag trade.

No. He specialized in charm.

It comes easy to Italians.

We were married for several years

and had two children...

...and three cars, and he kept the cars.

- What about child support?

- He's rather odd about that.

He won't send me anything for the kids,

if I don't send him something for the cars.

What about your wife?

Good-looking, bright, articulate,

can start a fire with two pieces of wood.

We've been married for 11 years

and I've never been unfaithful to her...

...in the same city.

- Where is she now?

- Out of town.

- I see.

- What about lunch?

- What do you have in mind?

- Just lunch.

- Where?

- I know a cute continental restaurant.

- Italian?

- Continental.

It's very discreet, out of the way,

it's sort of...

...a hotel.

It's a very nice hotel.

It's got good food, great wine...

- I mean...

- What the hell, a girl has to eat.

It's difficult to steal in France,

because they expect you to.

- They are such snobs with their clothes...

- Waiter.

- I'm boring you to tears.

- Not at all.

Why are you asking for the check?

I would have liked coffee.

Of course, it's just that...

...l've got this friend who's got this...

- Little place upstairs.

- Little place upstairs.

I thought we'd have some coffee and...

- Cognac?

- Cognac.

- You've been there before.

- I'm wildly guessing.

- Shall we?

- Why not?

Why pay for something

when you can get it for free?

I didn't mean it to sound like that.

Would you please forget what I said?

- Certainly.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- Where do I go?

- Thank you.

- 'Bye, madam.

Thank you, sir.

How long have you been divorced?

About six months.

You had two kids in the first three years?

No, I had them in the first two years.

Was he Catholic?

No, he wasn't Catholic

and I wasn't careless.

I just wanted those kids. I don't know.

It all suddenly became extremely fine.

- Then why'd you keep his name?

- It was the only thing he was giving away.

My God, you ask a lot of questions.

People either hate it or love it.

It's about 70/30.

- Milk and sugar?

- Sugar, please.

You know, it's a funny thing.

I can always tell about people.

- Can you?

- I know immediately when I'm relating.

I felt it right away with you.

Do you feel it, too?

Well, I...

I must feel something,

otherwise why am I here...

...when I should be stealing

Saint Laurent's new autumn line?

- Exactly.

- Can I say something to you?

Sure.

In the past two days,

you have picked me up in the rain...

...given me tea, bought me lunch,

lured me to this hideaway...

...with the intention

of getting me into bed...

...for what you Americans

so charmingly call "a quickie."

Is that a fair resum so far?

Why do women always think the worst?

Why does sex always have to be

the first thing that... Yes.

I'll be honest with you.

I'm a divorced woman.

I'm under a lot of strain and tension.

I'm not sleeping too well.

I can do with some good,

healthy, uninvolved sex...

...with someone who loves his wife and

won't be a pain in the ass when it's over.

This must be your lucky day.

I thought it was, but not in this

overworked little joy station...

...where the sheets haven't been changed

and I've to be in the office in half an hour.

If you would like to arrange

a nice weekend somewhere...

...away from London, in the sun,

where the sheets are changed every day...

...please do. I would be very happy

to go with you.

Say something. Is it a deal?

It would do us both a world of good.

You rather more than me.

- I'm sorry.

- It's all right. I have another one.

Anything special, Derek?

No, not really.

Just the weekly sarcastic note

from New York.

Donnelly still wonders why Paris

runs ahead of us on sales and adjustments.

Also, Braithwaite took his usual

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Melvin Frank

Melvin Frank was an American screenwriter, film producer and film director. He is known for his work on films such as Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, The Court Jester, and A Touch of Class. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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