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Take a Girl Like You (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Take a Girl Like You' is a 1970 British romantic comedy drama film directed by Jonathan Miller and starring Hayley Mills, Oliver Reed and Noel Harrison. Based on the 1960 novel 'Take a Girl Like You' by Kingsley Amis, it was adapted by George Melly.TAKE A GIRL LIKE YOU
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 38, Iss. 444, (Jan 1, 1971): 32.
Synopsis
Northerner Jenny arrives in a town near London, where she has taken lodgings with a Labour candidate in order to take up a job as a teacher. She quickly meets Patrick, who knows another girl at the lodging house but shares the goal, along with his friend Julian, of having sex with as many women as possible.
After a first date which ends at Patrick's flat for coffee, Patrick is shocked when Jenny tells him she is a virgin and intends to stay that way until she meets the right man. Jenny is attracted to Patrick, so they get into a volatile relationship as Patrick tries to change Jenny's mind, without giving up his bachelor status.
Cast
* Hayley Mills as Jenny Bunn
* Oliver Reed as Patrick Standish
* Noel Harrison as Julian Ormerod
* John Bird as Dick Thompson
* Sheila Hancock as Martha Thompson
* Aimi MacDonald as Wendy
* Geraldine Sherman as Anna Le Page
* Ronald Lacey as Graham McClintoch
* John Fortune as Sir Gerald
* Imogen Hassall as Samantha
* Pippa Steel as Ted
* Penelope Keith as Tory Lady
* Nicholas Courtney as Panel Chairman
* George Woodbridge as Publican
* Jimmy Gardner as Voter
* Nerys Hughes as Teacher
* Jean Marlow as Mother
* Howard Goorney as Labour Agent
Production
Amis' novel was published in 1960. In April 1961, Roy Ward Baker announced he would make a film of the novel after he finished 'Flame in the Streets' but the project did not happen.BRITAIN'S SCREEN SCENE New York Times 23 Apr 1961: 129.In the Picture
Sight and Sound; London Vol. 30, Iss. 3, (Summer 1961): 121.
In April 1968, it was announced that producer Hal Chester would make a version of the novel under his new contract with Columbia Pictures. George Melly was writing the script and the director would be Jonathan Miller.MOVIE CALL SHEET: Segal Signed for 'Remagen'
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 12 Apr 1968: c16. Miller had directed for TV before, notably 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Whistle and I'll Come to You', but this was his first feature.
Miller admitted his "motives were slightly at fault in accepting the project to begin with. I was thinking that... well, Mike Nichols can make a lot of money, why shouldn't I? I accepted the project probably too eagerly. I think it was probably one of Amis' best novels but there were a lot of things to be said against filming it."
Miller says "the difficulties began to double" during scripting "because rather than let the script happen spontaneously, the producer sat in on its manufacture at almost every stage. I'm not saying he didn't work very hard and have the best intentions; it's just that his conception and our conception of the intentions were hopelessly at odds."
Miller says the story was "old fashioned" and that he and writer Melly "were forced into making" the story "even more old fashioned by making it more sentimental. Gradually I found myself boxed in to a very conventional, almost 1950s studio situation and the final cut was beyond my control."
Miller admitted "perhaps what we were doing was something quite dishonest in trying to steal in a realistic film inside the shell of a commercial enterprise. I don't think the two can be done."
In December 1968, Hayley Mills signed to star.MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'Power Play' to Be First Film for A&M Los Angeles Times 16 Dec 1968: g32.MOVIE CALL SHEET: Andrews to Co-Star in 'Madame Pompadour'
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 25 Dec 1968: i26. Filming started March 1969 in London.MOVIE CALL SHEET: Harrison in Starring Role
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 6 Mar 1969: d10.
Reception
The film was a commercial and critical flop. It was the last film produced by Hal Chester and the only feature directed by Miller.
References
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