The Perfect Woman (1949 film)
The Perfect Woman is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Bernard Knowles and written by George Black, Jr and J. B. Boothroyd, based upon a play by Wallace Geoffrey and Basil Mitchell. The screenplay concerns a scientist who creates a robotic woman in his lab.
The Perfect Woman | |
---|---|
Directed by | Bernard Knowles |
Produced by | Alfred Black George Black |
Written by | George Black Bernard Knowles add. dialogue Basil Boothroyd |
Based on | play by Wallace Geoffrey Basil Mitchell |
Starring | Patricia Roc Stanley Holloway Nigel Patrick Miles Malleson |
Music by | Arthur Wilkinson |
Cinematography | Jack Hildyard |
Edited by | Peter Graham Scott |
Production company | |
Distributed by | General Film Distributors – UK Eagle Lion (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £100,000[1] |
Plot
Professor Ernest Belman creates a woman in his lab.
Cast
- Patricia Roc as Penelope Belman
- Stanley Holloway as Ramshead
- Nigel Patrick as Roger Cavendish
- Miles Malleson as Professor Ernest Belman
- Irene Handl as Mrs. Butters
- Anita Sharp-Bolster as Lady Diana
- Fred Berger as Farini
- David Hurst as Wolfgang Winkel
- Pamela Devis as Olga the Robot
- Jerry Verno as Football Fan On Underground
- Johnnie Schofield as Ticket Collector
- Philippa Gill as Lady Mary
- Jerry Desmonde as Dress shop manager
- Dora Bryan as Model in shop
- Noel Howlett as Scientist
Original play
The original play debuted on 11 September 1948 and ran for 224 performances.[2]
Production
Producers George and Alfred Black were sons of a famous producer.[3]
Roc made the film after spending several months in Paris, where she made Retour and The Man on the Eiffel Tower.[4] Roc was under contract to J. Arthur Rank at the time.[5] Filming took place in January 1949. The film was shot in 38 days at only three-quarters of its budgeted cost.[6] 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.[7]
Reception
Roc left the Rank organisation before the film was released. The film was released on a double bill, and given a West End screening.[8] However it proved popular and made a profit.[1]
Two Cities' executive producer Earl St John hoped to reunite Holloway, Patrick and Roc for a sequel, The Perfect Man.[9] However no film resulted.
Television version
The BBC broadcast a live adaptation of the Geoffrey and Mitchell play in the Sunday Night Theatre slot on 6 May 1956.
References
- "THE STARRY WAY". The Courier-Mail (3961). Brisbane. 6 August 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- Wearing, J. P. (22 August 2014). The London Stage 1940-1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. ISBN 9780810893061.
- "[?]ME SUGGESTIONS FOR SWEETS". The Argus (31, 955). Melbourne. 1 February 1949. p. 3 (The Argus Woman's Magazine). Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Margaret aylurards BRITISH FILMS". The Sun (2385). Sydney. 26 December 1948. p. 21. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "MOVIE NEWS AND GOSSIP". Truth (3078). Sydney. 16 January 1949. p. 38. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "BRITISH STUDIOS BELIEVE IN SPEED". The Mirror. 26 (1395). Western Australia. 12 February 1949. p. 15. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Screen Gossip: "Harvest From The Wilderness"". Warwick Daily News (9231). Queensland. 7 March 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "ENGLISH ACTOR SECURES PLUM ROLE IN U.S. FILM". Truth (3097). Sydney. 29 May 1949. p. 43. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Perfect Sequel?". Weekly Times (4186). Victoria. 14 September 1949. p. 82. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
- The Perfect Woman at IMDb
- Review of film at New York Times
- The Perfect Woman at BFI
- The Perfect Woman at TCMDB