Sean Connery, Sir Ralph Richardson, and Gina Lollabrigida star in "Woman of Straw", a 1964 film.

Connery plays Tony Richmond, who hires Maria (Lollabrigida) as a nurse for his impossible wheelchair-bound uncle (Richardson). His Uncle Charles is cruel and rude, and Maria doesn't want to put up with him. Shortly after she arrives, she quits. Tony explains to her that his uncle doesn't have long to live, which she knows, and he's only been left 20 grand in his uncle's will. If Uncle Charles marries Maria, she'll inherit everything, and she can give him a million pounds. It's all perfect.

Maria and Tony are attracted to one another, though at first she resists. She also doesn't think she can bring herself to get Uncle Charles sufficiently interested in her to marry him - the idea repulses her. In truth, she winds up growing quite fond of him and is strict in the way she cares for him. However, his Jekyll-Hyde behavior becomes too much and she quits again. This time, Charles goes to see her himself and proposes. She accepts.

While on a yacht trip, Charles changes his will to benefit her and doubles his nephew's inheritance to $40,000. Tony tells her that he will have to register the will in London when they get back in order for it to be legal. And that's where the trouble begins.

Terrific film, well directed by Basil Dearden, produced in color with glorious scenery. Everyone does a great job, particularly Richardson, such a magnificent actor, who is hateful one minute and likable the next. Connery and Lollabrigida are gorgeous. It's a good script that will keep you involved right to the very end. Highly recommended. This doesn't seem to be out on DVD. I saw it on Netflix streaming, and now it's gone. Don't know what the problem is, but this deserves to be seen.

The legendary Sir Ralph Richardson gives a delightful performance as a crippled multi millionaire who marries nurse Gina Lollobrigida as part of nephew Sean Connery's revenge plot against him. Having been mistreated by him for years, Connery claims that all he wants is a million pounds of the estate but the reluctant Lollobrigida becomes wary of the scheme, having seen various bits of vulnerability in the outrageously cruel Richardson. A bizarre twist of fate leads Lollobrigida to go on trial for murder but there's hidden truth inside the Downton Abbey like mansion that Richardson owned and the lavishly yacht he sailed on.

For the hour and fifteen minutes that Richardson is on screen, this is his film completely. He's malicious beyond words, making his black servants act like circus dogs and jump over each other (strictly for amusement) and delays the rescue of one of them when they fall off his yacht during a huge storm at sea. There's the most vile of insults towards everybody who works for him, is related to him, or does business with him. Then how does he get the sympathy? The character Richardson plays is unrelentingly demanding, but the performance is absolutely commanding.

Coming off of several Bond films, Connery is elegant, romantic, but brutal towards Lollobrigida, striking her viciously when he thinks she's not going through their plans. Part of the plot line is oh so predictable, but there are moments when you are not sure that the script is going to go there. It reminds me of a modern set version of a 1955 Gothic thriller, "Footsteps in the Fog", where Stewart Granger found himself blackmailed by servant girl Jean Simmons. Lollobrigida seems too good to be true, but it's nice to see a female character in a scheme like this not being a deadly femme fatale. Beautiful art direction and location photography add to the film's strengths. Alexander Knox adds a brief commanding presence as the detective who uncovers everything.

Charles Richmond (Ralph Richardson) is an elderly, angry tyrant....and a rich one at that. He treats everyone around him with contempt....and is a racist and treats his black servants like dogs. All in all, it's hard to like anything about the man. So, it's not surprising that his new nurse (Gina Lollobrigida) stomps off the job. What is surprising is when Richmond, in a strange act of contrition and decency, seeks her out and even apologizes for his actions. After all, he misses her. What is most surprising, however, is what happens next...he asks her to marry him...and she agrees. Whether she agrees because she genuinely likes him or because Richmond's handsome nephew (Sean Connery) convinces her to marry him because they will share the money soon (after all, Richmond is sickly and old) is unknown. What happens next...well, I'll let you find out about that if you watch the film. I just don't want to spoil the story by telling you more.

Although the film has a modest score currently of 6.7 and was a box office disappointment, I actually enjoyed the movie....mostly because it was so original. Overall, a very good film and one that will keep you guessing!