The Gentle Sex (1943)

This film tells the stories of seven 'gentle' British girls who decide to "do their bit" and help out during World War II.

Director:

Leslie Howard

Writers:

Moie Charles (original story and screenplay), Aimée Stuart (additional dialogue),

Stars:

Joan Gates, Jean Gillie, Joan Greenwood

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Gates	...	Gwen Hayden
Jean Gillie	...	Dot Hopkins
Joan Greenwood	...	Betty Miller
Joyce Howard	...	Anne Lawrence
Rosamund John	...	Maggie Fraser
Lilli Palmer	...	Erna Debruski
Barbara Waring	...	Joan Simpson
John Justin	...	Flying Officer David Sheridan
Elliott Mason	...	Mrs. Fraser (as Elliot Mason)
Tony Bazell	...	Ted (as Anthony Bazell)
Frederick Leister	...	Colonel Lawrence
Everley Gregg	...	Miss Simpson
John Laurie	...	Scots Corporal at Dance
Mary Jerrold	...	Mrs. Sheridan
Meriel Forbes	...	Junior Commander Davis

Storyline

During the War seven women from very different backgrounds find themselves together in the Auxiliary Territorial Services. They are soon drilling, driving lorries, and manning ack-ack batteries.

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Plot Keywords:

propaganda | world war two

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 May 1943 (UK)

Also Known As:

7 flickor

Filming Locations:

Carlisle, Cumbria, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Two Cities Films, Derrick De Marney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leslie Howard's last role.

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Goofs

The locomotive pulling the carriages from the Southern Railway London terminus where the women board, is a different class locomotive seen later in the film prior to their arrival at the Army base.

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Quotes

Narrator: That dispatch rider... I keep forgetting it's a girl.

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Connections

Featured in War Stories (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Dilly Dally"
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

An unusual British wartime film

I saw this film recently on TV, and although social attitudes have changed drastically and is a tad patronising, it's still a worthy entry in the "soldiers going through training" film. What is unusual about it is that it concentrates on women rather than men. British films at the time (and for quite a few years afterwards) were male dominated. The recruits are a mixed bunch: Betty Miller (Joan Greenwood), the youngest, has never been away from home before or done anything for herself and is desperately homesick; Dot Hopkins (Jean Gillie)who wants to do something different; Erna the refugee (Lilly Palmer); Maggie Fraser (Rosamond John) the friendly Scottish girl, who never stops eating; Anne Lawrence (Joyce Howard) who is from a service family who knows what she has to do and is the beauty of the group. Joan Simpson (Barbara Waring), who is sharp tongued and stand-offish but who turns out to be as lonely as the rest of them and Gwen Haydon(Joan Gates) the cheery Cockney girl. Although I found the film enjoyable, I would like to have known more about the background of the recruits. Rosamond John's Scottish accent was unconvincing, though her performance was fine. And was Joan Simpson meant to be a lesbian? She showed her disdain for men throughout and the lady who saw her off at the railway station was very affectionate towards her, though she is listed in the credits as "Miss Simpson", although no reference to their being related was never made clear. Joyce Howard is lovely with a warm, friendly personality. I had never heard of her before and wondered if she was a relation to Leslie Howard, the director? And how any stretch of the imagination could John Laurie (the soldier who dances with Maggie) be referred to as "young", as Leslie Howard did in the final narration? He must have be 45 if he was a day. However, it was nice to see him with a smile on his face for a change. All in all, a good entry in the British wartime film genre.