French Without Tears (film)

Last updated

French Without Tears
"French Without Tears" (1940).jpg
Film poster
Directed by Anthony Asquith
Written by Ian Dalrymple
Anatole de Grunwald
Terence Rattigan
Produced by Mario Zampi
Starring Ray Milland
Cinematography Bernard Knowles
Edited by David Lean
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Clive Richardson (uncredited)
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • 1939 (1939)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

French Without Tears is a 1939 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Ray Milland. It was based on the 1936 play of the same name by Terence Rattigan, who also co-wrote the script. An on-off working relationship between Asquith and Rattigan began with this film and continued over the next 15 years. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

The love affairs are depicted of three young Englishmen at a language "cramming" school in the south of France. Diana, the sister of one of the boys, arrives in town to flirt with all of her brothers' schoolmates. [3]

Cast

Critical reception

Sky Movies described a "sparkling version of Terence Rattigan's comedy play. The import of Ellen Drew and Ray Milland from Hollywood ensured the film's success world-wide." [1] Writing for Allmovie, Hal Erickson wrote, "much of the wit and zest of the original stage production has been blunted for the screen, moving one critic to describe French Without Tears as 'Comedy Without Laughs'. In all fairness, however, the film does boast a hilarious drunk scene in a musty old French wine cellar." [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Milland</span> Welsh-American actor and film director (1907–1986)

Ray Milland was a Welsh-American actor and film director. He is often remembered for his portrayal of an alcoholic writer in Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend (1945), which won him Best Actor at Cannes, a Golden Globe Award, and ultimately an Academy Award—the first such accolades for any Welsh actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terence Rattigan</span> British playwright and screenwriter

Sir Terence Mervyn Rattigan was a British dramatist and screenwriter. He was one of England's most popular mid-20th-century dramatists. His plays are typically set in an upper-middle-class background. He wrote The Winslow Boy (1946), The Browning Version (1948), The Deep Blue Sea (1952) and Separate Tables (1954), among many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Asquith</span> English film director (1902–1968)

Anthony Asquith was an English film director. He collaborated successfully with playwright Terence Rattigan on The Winslow Boy (1948) and The Browning Version (1951), among other adaptations. His other notable films include Pygmalion (1938), French Without Tears (1940), The Way to the Stars (1945) and a 1952 adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.

<i>The V.I.P.s</i> (film) 1963 film by Anthony Asquith

The V.I.P.s is a 1963 British comedy-drama film in Metrocolor and Panavision. It was directed by Anthony Asquith, produced by Anatole de Grunwald, and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was written by Terence Rattigan, with a music score by Miklós Rózsa.

<i>French Without Tears</i> 1936 play by Terence Rattigan

French Without Tears is a comic play written by a 25-year-old Terence Rattigan in 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Drew</span> American actress (1915–2003)

Ellen Drew was an American film actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Flemyng</span> British actor

Benjamin Arthur Flemyng, known professionally as Robert Flemyng, was a British actor. The son of a doctor, and originally intended for a medical career, Flemyng learned his stagecraft in provincial repertory theatre. In 1935 he appeared in a leading role in the West End, and the following year had his first major success, in Terence Rattigan's comedy French Without Tears. Between then and the Second World War he appeared in London and New York in a succession of comedies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Ackland</span> English dramatist (1908–1991)

Rodney Ackland was an English playwright, actor, theatre director and screenwriter.

Nicholas "Slug" Brodszky was a composer of popular songs for the theatre and for films.

Anatole "Tolly" de Grunwald was a Russian British film producer and screenwriter.

Filippo Del Giudice,, born in Trani, Italy, was an Italian film producer. Giudice was a lawyer, legal advisor and film producer. He worked with people that were already well known in their field of work.

<i>The Deep Blue Sea</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film

The Deep Blue Sea is a 1955 British drama film directed by Anatole Litvak, starring Vivien Leigh and Kenneth More, and produced by London Films and released by Twentieth Century Fox. The picture was based on the 1952 play of the same name by Terence Rattigan.

<i>The Final Test</i> 1953 film by Anthony Asquith

The Final Test is a 1953 British sports film written by Terence Rattigan, directed by Anthony Asquith, and starring Jack Warner, Robert Morley, George Relph and Ray Jackson. A number of leading cricketers also appear including Denis Compton, Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook. The film was produced by R.J. Minney for Act Films Ltd. It was that company's second film.

<i>Bond Street</i> (film) 1948 British portmanteau drama film directed by Gordon Parry

Bond Street is a 1948 British portmanteau drama film directed by Gordon Parry and based on a story by Terence Rattigan. It stars Jean Kent, Roland Young, Kathleen Harrison, and Derek Farr. The film depicts a bride's dress, veil, pearls and flowers purchased in London's Bond Street—and the secret story behind each item.

<i>Quiet Wedding</i> 1941 film by Anthony Asquith

Quiet Wedding is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding. The screenplay was written by Terence Rattigan and Anatole de Grunwald based on the play Quiet Wedding by Esther McCracken. The film was remade in 1958 as Happy Is the Bride.

<i>Flare Path</i> 1942 play written by Terence Rattigan

Flare Path is a play by Terence Rattigan, written in 1941 and first staged in 1942. Set in a hotel near an RAF Bomber Command airbase during the Second World War, the story involves a love triangle between a pilot, his actress wife and a famous film star. The play is based in part on Rattigan's own wartime experiences, and was significantly reworked and adapted for film as The Way to the Stars.

<i>While the Sun Shines</i> 1947 English comedy film

While the Sun Shines is a 1947 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Barbara White, Ronald Squire, Brenda Bruce, Bonar Colleano, and Michael Allan. It was based on Terence Rattigan's 1943 play of the same name.

<i>The Man Who Loved Redheads</i> 1955 British comedy film

The Man Who Loved Redheads is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Moira Shearer, John Justin and Roland Culver. The film is based on the play Who is Sylvia? (1950) by Terence Rattigan, which is reputedly a thinly veiled account of the author's philandering father. The film follows the play fairly closely, its main difference being the turning of Sylvia into a redhead.

<i>English Without Tears</i> 1944 English film

English Without Tears is a 1944 British romantic comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Michael Wilding, Penelope Dudley-Ward and Lilli Palmer. It was released in the U.S. under the title Her Man Gilbey, as a reference to the classic Screwball comedy, My Man Godfrey (1936).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">While the Sun Shines (play)</span>

While the Sun Shines is a comedy play by the British writer Terence Rattigan which was first staged in 1943. It was a popular success, running for 1,154 performances, even more than Rattigan's previous hit French Without Tears, and proved his longest running West End play. A Broadway production followed in 1944, though it ran for only 39 performances.

References

  1. 1 2 "French Without Tears - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 "French Without Tears (1939) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. "French without Tears | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2014.