Her Man Gilbey
(1944)
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Her Man Gilbey
(1944)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Michael Wilding | ... |
Tom Gilbey
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Penelope Dudley-Ward | ... |
Joan Heseltine
(as Penelope Ward)
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Lilli Palmer | ... |
Brigid Knudsen
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Claude Dauphin | ... |
François de Freycinet
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Albert Lieven | ... |
Felix Dembowski
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| Peggy Cummins | ... |
Bobbie Heseltine
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Margaret Rutherford | ... |
Lady Christabel Beauclerk
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Martin Miller | ... |
Schmidt
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Roland Culver | ... |
Sir Cosmo Brandon
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Paul Demel | ... |
M. Saladoff
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Beryl Measor | ... |
Miss Faljambe
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Guy Middleton | ... |
Captain Standish
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Esma Cannon | ... |
Queenie
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Ivor Barnard | ... |
Mr. Quiel
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Paul Bonifas | ... |
Monsieur Rolland
(as Paul Boniface)
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While Lady Christabel Beauclark, a bird fancier, is scurrying about demanding certain territorial rights for British birds from other countries, Her Ladyship's niece is falling in love with the family butler, Tom Gilbey. The birds are forgotten when war breaks out, and Gilbey now finds himself in love with the niece whose love was previously unrequited. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
English without Tears is a movie of surprising length, considering that its less than 90 minutes long. Perhaps it is so because the war was on in 1944 when it was released - but this is more a farce than comedy.
For such a short movie, there is a lot going on. There is the plot about the butler and one of the girls who professes her love for him. Then there is the plot about the English Instructor with whom the students cheat on their real instructor with. Then there is the farce element of mistaken manners, and confused situations.
There is even an S and M theme going on with how one of the characters treats another, and it serves as their own personal turn on.
Lillie Palmer is radiant and under used in this film. However the casting of frigid and rigid Penelope Dudley-Ward makes the heroine unsympathetic and engaging. Michael Wilding is wooden at ease and uncomfortable when he should be relaxed. It all simply doesn't work.
The most ironic line of all in the movie is "I do not understand jokes because I have no sense of humor" is said by a woman to her uniformed date at a dance, to which the gentleman retorts with "Then I will explain the joke to you".
Movies, like jokes aren't funny when they have to be explained either.