There Was a Young Lady
There Was a Young Lady is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray and Sydney Tafler. It was made at Walton Studios and on location in London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Frederick Pusey . Huntington had been a prominent director in the 1940s but after this film he dropped into making second features.[1] The film marked the screen debut of Geraldine McEwan as dim-witted secretary Irene.[2]
| There Was a Young Lady | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lawrence Huntington |
| Produced by | A.R. Rawlinson Ernest G. Roy |
| Written by | Vernon Harris Lawrence Huntington John Jowett |
| Starring | Michael Denison Dulcie Gray Sydney Tafler |
| Music by | Wilfred Burns |
| Cinematography | Gerald Gibbs |
| Edited by | Joseph Sterling |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Butcher's Film Service (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
Super-efficient secretary Elizabeth Foster (Dulcie Gray) effectively runs the family jewellery firm. Her boss David Walsh is on the point of asking her to marry her when the poor ring causes the whole plan to go awry and she quits instead.
She walks out of her office and straight into a smash and grab robbery. Kidnapped by the gang and taken to their mansion hideout in rural Sussex, she slips a note to the cart man who takes them to the mansion. It is written on a pound note and only noticed when he spends it in the pub.
Elizabeth sets to improve the living conditions of the robbers and also proves to know far more about their jewel haul than they know themselves. All her predictions as to how their smash and grab plans will fail prove to be correct.
The gang all fall in love with Elizabeth and treat her very well. Nevertheless they eventually rob the Walsh shop.
David Walsh comes to rescue Elizabeth.
Cast
- Michael Denison as David Walsh
- Dulcie Gray as Elizabeth Foster
- Sydney Tafler as Johnny
- Charles Farrell as Arthur
- Geraldine McEwan as Irene (her first film role)
- Marcel Poncin as 1st Jeweller
- Robert Adair as Basher
- Tommy Duggan as A.R. Weatherspoon the pools man
- Bill Shine as Charlie, Duke of Chiddingford
- Bill Owen as Joe
- Kenneth Connor as Tom Bass the cart man
- Basil Dignam as 2nd Jeweller
- Ben Williams as Man delivering safe
Critical reception
Radio Times wrote "Chuckles abound";[3] and TV Guide noted "Decent comedy is slightly better than average, with Gray at her brightest."[4]
References
- Chibnall & MacFarlane p.148
- "Geraldine McEwan". BFI.
- "There Was a Young Lady – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
- "There Was A Young Lady | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
Bibliography
- Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. The British 'B' Film. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.