Will Any Gentleman…? (1953, George Cole, Veronica Hurst, Jon Pertwee, Heather Thatcher, James Hayter, William Hartnell, Diana Decker, Joan Sims, Alan Badel, Sidney James, Peter Butterworth) – Classic Movie Review 12,037

Joan Sims, above right. with Peter Butterworth, above left.

Director Michael Anderson’s 1953 British comedy film Will Any Gentleman…? stars George Cole as a timid bank clerk called Henry Sterling, in this amusing enough adaptation of the popular 1950 stage farce by Vernon Sylvaine, who also writes the screenplay. It also stars Veronica Hurst, Jon Pertwee, Heather Thatcher, James Hayter, William Hartnell, Diana Decker, Joan Sims, Alan Badel, Sidney James, and Peter Butterworth.

To the horror of his wife (Veronica Hurst), the timid bank clerk is transformed into a suave womaniser after being hypnotised by The Great Mendoza (Alan Badel) at a music hall he has attended to pay the manager a debt owed by his philandering. cheque-bouncing brother Charley Sterling (Jon Pertwee).

Henry’s twin personas come and go randomly. When the reckless womaniser, he chats up women, spends money he has not have, insults his domineering mother-in-law, prompting his wife to leaves him, and robs his boss of £300.

Sidney James.

Director Michael Anderson’s minor 1953 British comedy is made worth while by the cheery, consistently amusing British cast, which includes two Dr Whos (Jon Pertwee and William Hartnell) and a number of Carry On regulars (Joan Sims, Sidney James, Peter Butterworth).

Also in the cast are Heather Thatcher, James Hayter, Diana Decker, Brian Oulton, Alexander Gauge, Nan Braunton, Jill Melford, Josephine Douglas, Wally Patch, Lionel Jeffries, Martyn Wyldeck, Arthur Howard and Brian Wilde.

Sims recalled: ’My fee was £25. To me this felt like a fortune. I blew the lot on kitchen equipment.’

It is the first of five films Michael Anderson made for Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), and, with its UK take of £128,522, made money at the box office.

Will Any Gentleman…? is directed by Michael Anderson, runs 84 minutes, is made by Stratford Productions and Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), is released by Associated British-Pathé, is written by Vernon Sylvaine, is shot by Erwin Hillier, is produced by Hamilton G Inglis and is scored by Wally Stott.

The cast are George Cole as Henry Sterling, Veronica Hurst as Florence Sterling, Heather Thatcher as Mrs. Whittle, Jon Pertwee as Charley Sterling, James Hayter as Dr Smith, William Hartnell as Detective Inspector Martin, Sid James as Mr. Hobson, Diana Decker as Angel, Joan Sims as Beryl, Brian Oulton as Mr. Jackson, Alan Badel as The Great Mendoza, Wilfred Boyle as Albert Boyle, Alexander Gauge as Mr. Billing, Nan Braunton as Neighbour, Jill Melford as Honey, Peter Butterworth as theatre stage manager, Josephine Douglas, Wally Patch, Lionel Jeffries, Martyn Wyldeck, Arthur Howard and Brian Wilde.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,037

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