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French Without Tears (film)
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Wikipedia article
'French Without Tears' is a 1939 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Ray Milland. It was based on the 1936 play of the same name by Terence Rattigan, who also co-wrote the script.
An on-off working relationship between Asquith and Rattigan began with this film and continued over the next 15 years.
Plot
The love affairs are depicted of three young Englishmen at a language "cramming" school in the south of France. Diana, the sister of one of the boys, arrives in town to flirt with all of her brothers' schoolmates.
Cast
* Ray Milland as Alan Howard
* Ellen Drew as Diana Lake
* Janine Darcey as Jacqueline Maingot
* David Tree as Chris Neilan
* Roland Culver as Cmdr. Bill Rogers
* Guy Middleton as Brian Curtis
* Kenneth Morgan as Kenneth Lake
* Margaret Yarde as Marianne
* Toni Gable as Chi-Chi
* Jim Grald as Professor Maingot
* Mantovani as Himself - Orchestra Leader
Critical reception
Sky Movies described a "sparkling version of Terence Rattigan's comedy play. The import of Ellen Drew and Ray Milland from Hollywood ensured the film's success world-wide." Writing for Allmovie, Hal Erickson wrote, "much of the wit and zest of the original stage production has been blunted for the screen, moving one critic to describe 'French Without Tears' as 'Comedy Without Laughs'. In all fairness, however, the film does boast a hilarious drunk scene in a musty old French wine cellar."
References
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