The Weaker Sex
| The Weaker Sex | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Roy Ward Baker |
| Produced by | Paul Soskin |
| Written by |
Esther McCracken Paul Soskin Val Valentine (additional scenes) |
| Based on | the play No Medals by Esther McCracken |
| Starring |
Ursula Jeans Cecil Parker Joan Hopkins |
| Music by | Arthur Wilkinson |
| Cinematography | Erwin Hillier |
| Edited by |
Michael C. Chorlton (as Michael Chorlton) Joseph Sterling |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release dates | 22 September 1948 (London) (UK) |
Running time | 84 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Weaker Sex is a 1948 British drama film directed by Roy Ward Baker.[1]
It was one of the most popular movies at the British box office in 1948.[2]
The film's title is ironic,[3] its subject being what The New York Times described as the "heroics of that valiant legion of women who stood, but did not wait, through the long war years and the now dreary post war years." [4]
Plot
Life on the British home front during World War II. Widowed Martha Dacre tries to keep house and home together during the run up to the D-Day landings. With lodgers to contend with, two daughters, and her son away in the Navy, she has chosen to stay at home as a housewife. But when her son's ship is damaged during the landings, she experiences regrets about not taking a more active role in the war.
Cast
- Martha Dacre – Ursula Jeans
- Geoffrey Radcliffe – Cecil Parker
- Helen Wyland – Joan Hopkins
- Nigel Wyland – Derek Bond
- Lolly – Lana Morris
- Roddy McIntyre – John Stone
- Benjie Dacre – Digby Wolfe
- Mrs Gaye – Thora Hird
- Soldier – Bill Owen
- Harriet Lessing – Marian Spencer
- Captain Dishart – Kynaston Reeves
- Clippie – Eleanor Summerfield
- Woman – Gladys Henson
- Mrs Maling – Dorothy Bramhall
- Shop Supervisor – Marjorie Gresley
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote, "a thoroughly professional cast and an adult script make the drama genuine and trenchant. Ursula Jeans is excellent as the beleaguered mother who minimizes her work and sacrifices by remarking "one is given no choice — just a little extra strength from somewhere." Cecil Parker is equally adept in his restrained portrayal of the commander she eventually marries. A lady exotically named Thora Hird contributes a superbly droll bit as a Yorkshire servant and Joan Hopkins, Lana Morris, Digby Wolfe, Derek Bond and John Stone add solid characterizations as the children and sons-in-law" ;[5] and Sky Movies wrote, "the best reviews of the period were saved for Thora Hird as Mrs Gage, the 'daily' with a dry sense of humour", and concluded, "good, solid drama told convincingly – if a trifle over-sentimental today." [6]
References
- ↑ "The Weaker Sex". BFI.
- ↑ "THE STARRY WAY.". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 8 January 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ↑ "The Weaker Sex". TV Guide.
- ↑ "Movie Review – The Weaker Sex – A British Import at Little Carnegie – NYTimes.com".
- ↑ "Movie Review – The Weaker Sex – A British Import at Little Carnegie – NYTimes.com".
- ↑ "The Weaker Sex". Find and Watch.