The Gentle Sex
Encyclopedia
The Gentle Sex is a 1943
British
, black-and-white
romantic comedy-drama war film directed
and narrated by Leslie Howard
. It was produced
by Concanen Productions, Two Cities Films
and Derrick de Marney
.
training camp. Leslie Howard
provides narration through the course of the film. The Gentle Sex was Howard's last film before his death.
1943 in film
The year 1943 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 3 - 1st missing persons telecast * February 20 - American film studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor films....
British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
romantic comedy-drama war film directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and narrated by Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard (actor)
Leslie Howard was an English stage and film actor, director, and producer. Among his best-known roles was Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind and roles in Berkeley Square , Of Human Bondage , The Scarlet Pimpernel , The Petrified Forest , Pygmalion , Intermezzo , Pimpernel Smith...
. It was produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
by Concanen Productions, Two Cities Films
Two Cities Films
Two Cities Films was a British film production company. Formed in 1937, it was originally envisaged as a production company operating in the two cities of London and Rome which gave the company its name....
and Derrick de Marney
Derrick De Marney
Derrick De Marney was an English stage and film actor and producer, of French and Irish ancestry.-Actor:On the London stage from 1922 and films from 1928...
.
Synopsis
It follows seven women from different backgrounds who meet at an Auxiliary Territorial ServiceAuxiliary Territorial Service
The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War...
training camp. Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard may refer to:*Leslie Howard , English stage performer who became star of Hollywood films during 1930s*Leslie Howard , Australian-born British pianist and composer...
provides narration through the course of the film. The Gentle Sex was Howard's last film before his death.
Cast
- Joan Gates as Gwen Hayden
- Jean GillieJean GillieJean Gillie was an English film actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Gillie appeared in 20 British and two American films before her career was cut short by her early death.-Career:...
as Dot Hopkins - Joan GreenwoodJoan GreenwoodJoan Greenwood was an English actress. Born in Chelsea, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her husky voice, coupled with her slow, precise elocution, was her trademark...
as Betty Miller - Joyce HowardJoyce HowardJoyce Howard was a British film actress.-Filmography:* Freedom Radio * Love on the Dole * The Common Touch * Back-Room Boy * The Night Has Eyes...
as Anne Lawrence - Rosamund JohnRosamund JohnRosamund John , born Nora Rosamund Jones, was an English film and stage actress.She was brought up in Tottenham and became a popular film and stage actress who was known for playing gentle mannered women. John was twice married, first to film editor Russell Lloyd, from 1943–1949, and then to the...
as Maggie Fraser - Lilli PalmerLilli PalmerLilli Palmer , born Lilli Marie Peiser, was a German actress. She won the Volpi Cup, the Deutscher Filmpreis three times, and was nominated twice for a Golden Globe Award.-Life and career:...
as Erna Debruski - Barbara Waring as Joan Simpson
- John JustinJohn JustinJohn Justin was a British stage and film actor.John Justinian de Ledesma was born in London, England, the son of a well-off Argentine rancher. Though he grew up on his father's ranch, he was educated at Bryanston School, Dorset...
as Flying Officer David Sheridan - Mary JerroldMary JerroldMary Jerrold was a British actress. She was married to actor Hubert Harben and mother of celebrity chef Philip Harben.-Selected filmography:* The Great Defender * Jack of All Trades * Return to Yesterday...
as Mrs. Sheridan - John LaurieJohn LaurieJohn Paton Laurie was a British actor born in Dumfries, Scotland. Although he is now probably most recognised for his role as Private James Frazer in the sitcom Dad's Army , he appeared in hundreds of feature films, including films by Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powell and Laurence Olivier...
as Scots Corporal - Elliott Mason as Mrs. Fraser
- Harry WelchmanHarry Welchman-Selected filmography:* The Maid of the Mountains * The Last Waltz * The Gentle Sex * Lisbon Story * Mad About Men...
as Captain Ferrier - Miles MallesonMiles MallesonWilliam Miles Malleson was an English actor and dramatist, particularly known for his appearances in British comedy films of the 1930s to 1960s. Towards the end of his career he also appeared in cameo roles in several Hammer horror films, with a fairly large role in The Brides of Dracula as the...
as Train Guard - Jimmy HanleyJimmy HanleyJimmy Hanley was a British actor.Born in Norwich, Norfolk, Hanley began his career as a child actor before becoming popular in juvenile roles...
as 1st Soldier - Meriel ForbesMeriel ForbesMeriel Forbes was a British actress. She was married to the actor Ralph Richardson.-Selected filmography:* Girls Please! * The Belles of St. Clements * The Day Will Dawn * The Gentle Sex...
as Junior Commander Davis - Rosalyn BoulterRosalyn Boulter-Selected filmography:* Return of a Stranger * Holiday's End * A Royal Divorce * The First of the Few * The Gentle Sex * George in Civvy Street * This Man Is Mine...
as Telephonist - Tony Bazell as Ted
- Noreen Craven as Convoy Sergeant
- Frederick Peisley as 2nd Soldier
- Ronald ShinerRonald ShinerRonald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
(as Ronnie Shiner) as the Racing Punter in the Pub
Further reading
- Lejeune, C. A. (1947) Chestnuts in her Lap. London: "Mädchen in Uniform: The Gentle Sex", p. 95-96