Woman in a Dressing Gown
Encyclopedia
Woman in a Dressing Gown is a 1957 British film directed by J. Lee Thompson
. Yvonne Mitchell
won the Silver Bear for Best Actress
at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival
.
The screenplay was written by Ted Willis
and the cinematographer was Gilbert Taylor
.
), husband Jim (Anthony Quayle
), and teenage son Brian (Andrew Ray
). Although the family appears happy, there is considerable tension as Amy never gets organised enough to get dressed each day. Instead she does the housework, cooks the meals, etc, in her dressing gown. Jim is having an affair with a co-worker, Georgie (Sylvia Syms
), who threatens to break it off unless Jim divorces his wife and leaves his family. He promises that he will do so, and demands a divorce from Amy. Amy is shocked and distraught, while Brian becomes angry with his father.
Finally, Amy invites Jim and Georgie back to the Prestons' flat in order to confront them. For this event she tries to cook a nice meal, paying for it by pawning her wedding ring, except she cannot remove it. She also finally gets dressed to prove she can get organised. The meeting does not end well, with Amy throwing them both out. Jim leaves, but has second thoughts about leaving his family behind. He makes the decision to return to his wife and son, who cautiously accept him back.
J. Lee Thompson
John Lee Thompson , better known as J. Lee Thompson, was an English film director, active in England and Hollywood.- Early years :...
. Yvonne Mitchell
Yvonne Mitchell
Yvonne Mitchell was an English stage, television and film actor. She was born Yvonne Frances Joseph, but in 1946 changed her name by deed poll to Yvonne Mitchell . Her mother's maiden name was Mitchell. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s...
won the Silver Bear for Best Actress
Silver Bear for Best Actress
The Silver Bear for Best Actress is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for achievement in performance by an actress.-Awards:- External links :*...
at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival
7th Berlin International Film Festival
The 7th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1957.-Jury:* Jay Carmody * Jean de Baroncelli* John Sutro* Dalpathal Kothari* Fernaldo Di Giammatteo* Bunzaburo Hayashi* Miguel Alemán hijo...
.
The screenplay was written by Ted Willis
Ted Willis
Edward Henry Willis, Baron Willis , commonly known as Ted Willis, was a British television dramatist who was also politically active in support of the Labour Party.-Political life:...
and the cinematographer was Gilbert Taylor
Gilbert Taylor
Gilbert Taylor, B.S.C. , is a cinematographer.After six years service during World War II as an officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, he became an Operational Cameraman flying in Avro Lancaster bombers, documenting the damage after British bombing raids.He worked on a number of films...
.
Plot
The Prestons are an apparently happy London household, made up of wife Amy (Yvonne MitchellYvonne Mitchell
Yvonne Mitchell was an English stage, television and film actor. She was born Yvonne Frances Joseph, but in 1946 changed her name by deed poll to Yvonne Mitchell . Her mother's maiden name was Mitchell. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s...
), husband Jim (Anthony Quayle
Anthony Quayle
Sir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
), and teenage son Brian (Andrew Ray
Andrew Ray
Andrew Ray was an English actor who was best known as a child star.He was born Andrew Olden , in North London, the son of the famous radio comic Ted Ray and his wife, showgirl Dorothy...
). Although the family appears happy, there is considerable tension as Amy never gets organised enough to get dressed each day. Instead she does the housework, cooks the meals, etc, in her dressing gown. Jim is having an affair with a co-worker, Georgie (Sylvia Syms
Sylvia Syms
Sylvia M. L. Syms OBE is a British actress. She is probably best known for her roles in the films Woman in a Dressing Gown , Ice-Cold in Alex , No Trees in the Street , Victim and The Tamarind Seed...
), who threatens to break it off unless Jim divorces his wife and leaves his family. He promises that he will do so, and demands a divorce from Amy. Amy is shocked and distraught, while Brian becomes angry with his father.
Finally, Amy invites Jim and Georgie back to the Prestons' flat in order to confront them. For this event she tries to cook a nice meal, paying for it by pawning her wedding ring, except she cannot remove it. She also finally gets dressed to prove she can get organised. The meeting does not end well, with Amy throwing them both out. Jim leaves, but has second thoughts about leaving his family behind. He makes the decision to return to his wife and son, who cautiously accept him back.
Cast
- Yvonne MitchellYvonne MitchellYvonne Mitchell was an English stage, television and film actor. She was born Yvonne Frances Joseph, but in 1946 changed her name by deed poll to Yvonne Mitchell . Her mother's maiden name was Mitchell. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s...
– Amy Preston - Anthony QuayleAnthony QuayleSir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
– Jim Preston - Sylvia SymsSylvia SymsSylvia M. L. Syms OBE is a British actress. She is probably best known for her roles in the films Woman in a Dressing Gown , Ice-Cold in Alex , No Trees in the Street , Victim and The Tamarind Seed...
– Georgie Harlow - Andrew RayAndrew RayAndrew Ray was an English actor who was best known as a child star.He was born Andrew Olden , in North London, the son of the famous radio comic Ted Ray and his wife, showgirl Dorothy...
– Brian Preston - Carole LesleyCarole LesleyCarole Lesley was a British actor who had a short but significant career as a "blonde bombshell".She starred in What a Whopper, and played Helen of Troy in a television play.She died of a drug overdose.- External links :*...
– Hilda - Michael RipperMichael RipperMichael Ripper was an English character actor born in Portsmouth.He began his film career in quota quickies in the 1930s and until the late 1950s was virtually unknown; he was seldom credited. He played one of the two murderers in Richard III. Ripper became a mainstay in Hammer Film Productions...
– Pawnbroker - Nora GordonNora GordonNora Gordon was a British film and television actress.-Selected filmography:* Old Mother Riley's Circus * Danny Boy * Journey Ahead * Blackmailed...
– Mrs. Williams - Marianne StoneMarianne StoneMarianne Stone was a British character actress. She appeared in many films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s...
– Hairdresser - Olga LindoOlga Lindo-Filmography:* The Shadow Between * Royal Cavalcade * Dark World * The Last Journey * A Romance in Flanders * Luck of the Navy * The Stars Look Down * What Men Live By...
– Manageress - Harry LockeHarry LockeHarry Locke was a British character actor.He was born and died in London. He was a familiar face in three decades of British cinema, with appearances including Passport to Pimlico , Reach for the Sky , Carry On Nurse , The Devil-Ship Pirates and The Family Way .In 1969 he appeared in Randall...
– Wine merchant - Max Butterfield – Harold
- Roberta Woolley – Christine
- Melvyn HayesMelvyn HayesMelvyn Hayes is an English actor probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum,-Early life and career:...
– Newsboy - Cordelia Mitchell – Hilda's baby