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A Girl Must Live
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Wikipedia article
'A Girl Must Live' is a 1939 British romantic comedy film directed by Carol Reed that stars Margaret Lockwood, Renee Houston, Lilli Palmer, Hugh Sinclair, and Naunton Wayne. Based on a 1936 novel by Emery Bonett with the same title, the plot features three chorus line girls competing for the affection of a wealthy bachelor.
Plot
Running away from her finishing school in Switzerland, Leslie James (a false name taken from a musical star of the past) finds a room in a London boarding house. There she learns from two other lodgers, Gloria and Clytie, that there will be an audition for a new musical that day, at which all three win places in the chorus line. Gloria meanwhile, tipped off by her conman cousin Hugo who plans to make plenty of money out of the deal, has caught the eye of the bachelor Earl of Pangborough. Her roommate Clytie, also keen on what profit she can extract, tries to detach him at the first night party but instead of these brash blonde showgirls he prefers the quiet brunette Leslie.
He invites the whole cast to spend the weekend at his country mansion, just so that he can get closer to Leslie. Despite spirited competition from Gloria and Clytie, manipulation from Hugo, and hostility from the Earl's aunt, she keeps his interest. Terrified however that she will be exposed as a runaway schoolgirl using a false name, she flees the house in the middle of the night. Abandoning his guests, the Earl gives chase and his pursuit ends with the two marrying.
Production
The film was based on a novel by Emery Bonnett published in 1937."NEW NOVELS: Rural Norway a Century Ago" 'The Scotsman' [Edinburgh, Scotland] 31 May 1937: 13
Gaumont British bought the rights and decided to make the film as one of their 12 "A class" features for 1937-38, made with an eye on the US market. Anna Lee and Lilli Palmer were the original stars."Gaumont British Deals Block-Booking a Lusty Blow By Announcing 12 "Class A" Films for Sale Singly: British Producing Company Stresses Quality Rather Than Quantity in Preferred List; 'Hollywood Premiere' Is Planned for 'The Road Back' Thursday; Another Bulky Reference Work Is Received." 'The Washington Post' 19 July 1937: 14. Eventually Margaret Lockwood and Renee Houston were announced as stars."SCREEN CONTRACT. TO GENE REYNOLDS: Metro Casts Youthful Actor in 'Boys Town' and to Star in 'One Young American' SIMONE SIMON IN HOSPITAL RKO Planning to Produce 'The Life of Sam Houston' as a Vehicle for Richard Dix Another Film for Miss Rogers Coast Scripts Rachmaninoff Sails for Tour Rachmaninoff Sails for Tour Skelton at Loew's State of Local Origin" Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. 'New York Times' 4 Feb 1938: 17.
Cast
*Margaret Lockwood as Leslie James
*Rene Houston as Gloria Lind
*Lilli Palmer as Clytie Devine
*George Robey as Horace Blount
*Hugh Sinclair as Earl of Pangborough
*Naunton Wayne as Hugo Smythe
*Moore Marriott as Bretherton Hythe
*Mary Clare as Mrs. Wallis
*David Burns as Joe Gold
*Kathleen Harrison as Penelope
*Drusilla Wills as Miss Polkinghome
*Wilson Coleman as Mr. Joliffe
*Helen Haye as Aunt Primrose
*Frederick Burtwell as Hodder
*Muriel Aked as Mme. Dupont, headmistress
*Martita Hunt as Mme. Dupont, assistant
*Kathleen Boutall as Mrs. Blount
*Michael Hordern
*Merle Tottenham as College inmate
*Joan White as College inmate
It was one of a series of movies Carol Reed made starring Margaret Lockwood when she was a "resident ingenue".
References
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