Not Tonight, Darling

Not to be confused with Not Now, Darling (film).

Not Tonight, Darling
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Anthony Sloman
Screenplay by	James Pillock
Story by	Christopher Gregory
Produced by	John M. Taylor
Starring	Luan Peters Vincent Ball
Cinematography	Harry Waxman
Edited by	Ean Wood
Music by	Denis King
Production company	Mintdene Film Productions
Release date	1 December 1971 (1971-12-01)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Not Tonight, Darling (also known as Not Tonight, Darling! and Not Now, Darling) is a 1971 British drama film directed by Anthony Sloman and starring Luan Peters and Vincent Ball. ^[1] It was written by James Pillock.

Plot

Karen Williams is bored with her comfortable suburban life and her solicitor husband John who ignores her after six years of marriage. She falls for fast-talking businessman Alex, and becomes involved in a seedy world of blackmail and sex.

Cast

• Luan Peters as Karen Williams
• Vincent Ball as Alex
• Jason Twelvetrees as John Williams
• James Hayter as Mr Finlay
• Bill Shine as Captain Harrison
• Sean Barry as Eddie
• Nicki Howorth as Joan
• Lance Barrett as Gary Williams
• Fiona Richmond as Susanne (credited as Amber Harrison)
• Michael O'Malley as Ben the Click
• Carol Catkin as Jill
• The Tiffany Sisters as speciality act in strip club
• John Gillett as guest in strip club
• David Nimmo as guest in the club
• Victor Schonfield as guest in strip club
• David Vorhaus as George
• Patti Walby as Anna
• Jay Lee as Bill
• Jenny D'arcey as Celeste
• Sue Calder as Three
• Thunderclap Newman as themselves
• Sean Redmayne as announcer in strip club
• Olwen Griffiths as dubbed voice of Joan

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A miserable piece of British sexploitation, from which the sex itself has been all but censored away. The dross that remains – a ritual of mooning about from bathroom to bedroom to nightclub – tests endurance to the utmost. Luan Peters' performance as Karen just about rises above its essentially shabby context." ^[2]

Kine Weekly wrote: "A routine little tale without any particular distinction, this will get by with the uncritical. ... The film falls short of quality on several counts. The plot itself is novelettish and the characters are, at the best, only stout cardboard, that of the stuffy young husband, John, being incredibly stupid. Jason Twelvetrees plays this unplayable part bravely without blanching at some dreadful lines, but he and his colleagues are not helped by direction that leaves no point unsharpened. Luan Peters creates some sympathy as the wife who goes off the rails, and Vincent Ball gives the best conviction to the nasty habits of Alex." ^[3]

References

1. "Not Tonight, Darling". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
2. "Not Tonight, Darling". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 38 (444): 224. 1 January 1971. ProQuest   1305832086.
3. "Not Tonight, Darling". Kine Weekly . 651 (3337): 14. 25 September 1971. ProQuest   2600902639.

External links

• Not Tonight, Darling at IMDb