Lady L

Lady L is a 1965 comedy-drama directed by Peter Ustinov and adapted from Romain Gary's novel of the same name. A co-production between France, the United Kingdom and Italy, it stars Sophia Loren, Paul Newman and David Niven.

The story begins as the elderly English Duchess Louise Lendale, known as Lady L, recounts her life to her young admirer Sir Percy. Her memories reach back to her youth working in a Paris brothel and follow the two great loves that shaped her destiny: an idealistic anarchist and the English aristocrat Lord Lendale, who lifts her into high society. Told largely through flashbacks, her recollections stretch as far as the era of the Russian Revolution.

The film departs notably from Gary's novel, particularly in its ending. Ustinov also wrote the screenplay, and the supporting cast includes Philippe Noiret and Marcel Dalio.