On 4 Jun 1963, DV announced that producer Anatole De Grunwald and screenwriter Terence Rattigan had boarded a project at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM) titled The Yellow Rolls-Royce. According to an article in the 31 May 1964 NYT, De Grunwald first developed the episodic story idea from a few pages of typescript he had purchased years earlier, which he shared with Rattigan, a longtime collaborator. Although items in the 21 Nov 1963 and 19 Mar 1964 DV indicated that Rod Taylor and Marcello Mastroianni were once attached to star, De Grunwald claimed he and Rattigan specially tailored the script for most of the actors that appeared in the picture. A 31 Mar 1964 DV brief revealed Shirley MacLaine received a salary of $500,000.
       Principal photography began 6 Apr 1964, as stated in a 17 Apr 1964 DV production chart. Studio work was completed at MGM British Studios in Borehamwood, England, outside London. The 22 Apr 1964 Var noted that The Yellow Rolls-Royce kicked off the studio’s biggest U.K. production deal, with $20—$25 million worth of projects set to film there that year. Several contemporary sources indicated that the first and third episodes were shot first; an article in the 12 Aug 1964 Var stated that the episode featuring Ingrid Bergman and Omar Sharif included ten days in the Austrian mountains near the border of Yugoslavia. Location scenes for the second episode starring MacLaine, George C. Scott, and Alain Delon were filmed in Pisa and Florence, Italy, according to the 7 Jul 1964 LAT. The unit remained there for just over a week, and crew often worked thirteen-hour days. 24 Jun 1964 and 8 Jul 1964 DV casting items revealed that Barbara Werle also appeared in this episode.
       Although cast work was completed on 7 Aug 1964, a 28 Oct 1964 Var brief announced that the titular Rolls-Royce had been shipped to New York City for additional photography on the city docks. According to the 31 May 1964 NYT, Dunlop Tyres provided original 1930s molds so the art department could specially cast a set of tires to match the make and model of the car. A double was also provided, with removable sections that allowed the filmmakers to shoot interiors and details.
       The film was purportedly finished on schedule and on budget, although the 12 Aug 1964 and 1 Sep 1965 Var listed different negative costs of $3.5 million and $3.9 million.
       An obituary published in the 22 Apr 1964 Var reported that actor Harold Scott died in London during production. The Yellow Rolls-Royce marked his final feature film appearance. The 28 Oct 1964 edition also announced that the picture marked the onscreen debut of restaurant host Vincent Sardi (of the famous New York City eatery, Sardi’s), who played a chauffeur.
       According to a 25 Nov 1964 Var news item, the world premiere was scheduled to take place 30 Dec 1964 at the Empire Theatre in London, with proceeds benefitting the British Newspaper Press Fund. The following spring, the 3 Mar 1965 Var reported that the car used in the picture would be displayed at the International Automobile Show in New York City ahead of the film’s upcoming U.S. debut. The Yellow Rolls-Royce opened 13 May 1965 at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, and 28 May 1965 at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Ticket sales were generally good, as the 21 Jul 1965 Var claimed that despite its continued popularity, MGM was eventually forced to pull the film from the Music Hall after more than two months to make room for The Sandpiper (1965, see entry). The 1 Sep 1965 Var listed a box-office gross of $10 million to date.
       Riz Ortolani and Norman Newell’s song “Forget Domani” received a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. Ortolani was also nominated for Best Original Score – Motion Picture.