The Perfect Woman | |
---|---|
Directed by | Bernard Knowles |
Written by | George Black Bernard Knowles add. dialogue Basil Boothroyd |
Based on | play by Wallace Geoffrey Basil Mitchell |
Produced by | Alfred Black George Black |
Starring | Patricia Roc Stanley Holloway Nigel Patrick Miles Malleson |
Cinematography | Jack Hildyard |
Edited by | Peter Graham Scott |
Music by | Arthur Wilkinson |
Production company | |
Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) Eagle Lion (UK) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £100,000 [1] |
The Perfect Woman is a 1949 British farce comedy film directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Patricia Roc, Stanley Holloway and Nigel Patrick. [2] It was written by George Black Jr, Knowles and J. B. Boothroyd, based on the play by Wallace Geoffrey and Basil Mitchell. The screenplay concerns a scientist who creates a robotic woman.
Roger Cavendish is informed by his butler Ramshead that he is broke. They find an advertisement in The Times placed by Professor Ernest Belman, seeking help. They phone and arrange to meet. The professor has created a female robot, Olga, based on his niece, Penelope. Cavendish and Ramshead are tasked with looking after the robot for a week but are told they must never say the word "love" in front of it.
When Penelope's date cancels, the housekeeper Buttercup suggests she pretend to be the robot. Cavendish and Ramshead take her to a hotel and stay in the bridal suite, sparking many rumours amongst the staff. Cavendish's rich aunt arrives and thinks he has married. The robot is sent to help to explain things.
The original play debuted on 11 September 1948 and ran for 224 performances. [3]
Roc was under contract to J. Arthur Rank at the time [4] but left the organisation before the film was released. Filming took place in January 1949. The film was shot in 38 days at only three-quarters of its budgeted cost. [5] It was made at Denham Studios with sets designed by James Elder Wills.
Pamela Devis was cast as the robot because of her resemblance to Roc. [6]
Two Cities' executive producer Earl St John hoped to reunite Holloway, Patrick and Roc for a sequel, The Perfect Man. [7] However no film resulted.
The film was released on a double bill, and given a West End screening. [8] It proved popular and made a profit. [1]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "From beginning to end this film never falters, moving from one amusing situation to another with amazing rapidity, and provides first-class light entertainment. It is exceedingly well produced and directed, maintaining an even pace throughout; the dialogue is witty, the background music appropriate, and the whole is a superb piece of nonsensical fun. Nigel Patrick as Roger Cavendish is a very natural comedian, while Stanley Holloway makes a good stooge. Miles Malleson portrays the rather lovable but very absent-minded Professor Belmon, and Patricia Roc as Penelope, together with Irene Handl, Fred Berger, David Hurst and the remainder of the cast add their share to the hilarity of the film." [9]
Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture is a little stagey in design, but the zest with which it is put over by the featured players and the accurate timing enable it to expand beyond the proscenium arch and smother its exuberant clichés with spontaneous laughs. Naughty but quite nice and agreeably staged, it would only dawn on the Censor to give it an "A." Thematically, it has been doing the rounds for years with never a smirk. In fact, its healthy tradition is one of its strongest recommendations." [10]
Picture Show wrote: "Its obvious theatricalities are cloaked by the joyful gusto with which it is acted." [11]
The BBC broadcast a live adaptation of the Geoffrey and Mitchell play in the Sunday Night Theatre slot on 6 May 1956. [12]
William Miles Malleson was an English actor and dramatist, particularly remembered for his appearances in British comedy films of the 1930s to 1960s. Towards the end of his career he also appeared in cameo roles in several Hammer horror films, with a fairly large role in The Brides of Dracula as the hypochondriac and fee-hungry local doctor. Malleson was also a writer on many films, including some of those in which he had small parts, such as Nell Gwyn (1934) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940). He also translated and adapted several of Molière's plays.
Irene Handl was a British character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films; she also wrote novels.
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The Great Game is a 1953 British sports comedy-drama directed by Maurice Elvey and starring James Hayter, Thora Hird and Diana Dors. It was written by Wolfgang Wilhelm based on the play Shooting Star by Basil Thomas. Many of the scenes were shot at Griffin Park, the home of Brentford F.C. Several professional football players made appearances in the film including Tommy Lawton.
Who Goes There! I is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Nigel Patrick, Valerie Hobson and George Cole. It was written by John Dighton based on his 1950 play Who Goes There!. The film depicts the farcical activities of the various inhabitants of a grace and favour house near St James's Palace in Central London.
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The Farmer's Wife is a 1941 British comedy drama film directed by Norman Lee and Leslie Arliss and starring Basil Sydney, Wilfrid Lawson and Nora Swinburne. It was written by Arliss, J. E. Hunter and Lee based on the 1916 play The Farmer's Wife by Eden Phillpotts which had previously been adapted by Alfred Hitchcock for a 1928 film of the same name. It was produced by ABPC at Welwyn Studios, at a time when the company's main Elstree Studios had been requisitioned for wartime use. The film is not widely known.
Woman Hater is a 1948 British romantic comedy film directed by Terence Young and starring Stewart Granger, Edwige Feuillère and Ronald Squire. The screenplay concerns Lord Datchett, who, as a consequence of a bet with his friends, invites a French film star to stay at his house but pretends to be one of his employees while he tries to romance her with the help of his butler. When she discovers his subterfuge, she decides to turn the tables on him.
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