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]
| French Without Tears | |
|---|---|
.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 |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editThe 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
edit- Ray Milland as Alan Howard
- Ellen Drew as Diana Lake
- Janine Darcey as Jacqueline Maingot
- David Tree as Chris Neilan
- Roland Culver as Cmdr. Bill Rogers
- Guy Middleton as Brian Curtis
- Kenneth Morgan as Kenneth Lake
- Margaret Yarde as Marianne
- Toni Gable as Chi-Chi
- Jim Gérald as Professor Maingot
- Mantovani as Himself - Orchestra Leader
Critical reception
editSky 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]
References
edit- ^ a b "French Without Tears - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ a b "French Without Tears (1939) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "French without Tears | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2014.