Warning to Wantons is a 1949 British romantic comedy film directed by Donald Wilson and starring Harold Warrender, Anne Vernon and David Tomlinson.[2]

Warning to Wantons
Directed byDonald Wilson
Written byJames Laver
Donald Wilson
Based onnovel A Warning to Wantons by Mary Mitchell
StarringHarold Warrender
Anne Vernon
David Tomlinson
CinematographyGeorge Stretton
Edited byFrederick Wilson
Sidney Hayers
Music byHans May
Production
company
Aquila Film
Distributed byGeneral Film Distributors (UK)
Release dates
  • 4 January 1949 (1949-01-04) (London, England)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£125,000[1]

The screenplay, written by art historian James Laver and the director, was based upon Mary Mitchell's 1934 novel A Warning to Wantons, subtitled 'A fantastic romance - setting forth the not undeserved but awful fate which befell a minx'.[3]

The film was one of the four of David Rawnsley's films that used his "independent frame" technique, a form of back projection.

Premise

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A young woman escapes her strict convent school and enters high society, where she has the time of her life.

Cast

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Credited

Uncredited

  • Stanley Ratcliffe as Baroud
  • Aletha Orr as Mrs. Budd
  • Claud Frederic as Padara
  • Ida Patlanski as Mrs. Padera
  • Olwen Brookes as Mdme. Bertrand
  • Kenneth Firth as Achille
  • John Warren (actor) as Grobner
  • Mela White as Madeleine
  • Alexander Field as Woodman
  • Betty Thomas as Hortense
  • Frank Cochrane as Gaston
  • Nancy Roberts as Mother Superior
  • Grace Denbigh Russell as Nurse
  • Margaret Damer as 1st Nun
  • Harriet Petworth as 2nd Nun
  • Michael Balzagette as Ticket Collector
  • Patricia Davidson as 1st Maid
  • David Keir as Concierge
  • Herbert C. Walton as Quarry Peasant
  • Peter Faber as Page
  • Pauline Loring as 1st Female Relative
  • Vincent Ball as Earl (Footman)

Production

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It was the first of four films produced by Donald Wilson using prefabricated sets to keep costs down. Filming took six weeks.[1]

Critical reception

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TV Guide called the film a "A spirited romantic comedy," and rated it two out of four stars.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "First of the 'prefabs'". Daily Mail. 5 January 1949. p. 4.
  2. ^ BFI.org
  3. ^ Mary Mitchell (1934). A Warning to Wantons. London: William Heinemann Ltd.
  4. ^ "A Warning To Wantons". TVGuide.com.
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