United States

"Romance With A Double Bass" is based on Anton Chekhov's story of a beautiful Russian princess (Connie Booth), who, on the day of her engagement party loses all her clothes whilst fishing in the river. John Cleese is Smychkov, the doleful double bass player hired for that evening's party. Coincidentally, except for his top hat, likewise, has all his clothes stolen. The fun comes from Cleese's combination of servility, prudery and physical awkwardness as he offers the princess shelter in his double bass case. June Whitfield is the princess's mother, who worries about a delivery of strawberries and Andrew (Fawlty Towers) Sachs is the musician, Zhuchkov.