Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957)

A married, middle-aged woman is shocked to discover that her husband, who she thought was content in their marriage, has become infatuated with a beautiful younger woman and is planning to leave his family for her.

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writer:

Ted Willis (original screenplay)

Stars:

Yvonne Mitchell, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Yvonne Mitchell	...	Amy Preston
Anthony Quayle	...	Jim Preston
Sylvia Syms	...	Georgie Harlow
Andrew Ray	...	Brian Preston
Carole Lesley	...	Hilda Harper
Michael Ripper	...	Pawnbroker
Nora Gordon	...	Mrs. Williams
Marianne Stone	...	Hairdresser
Olga Lindo	...	Manageress
Harry Locke	...	Wine merchant
Max Butterfield	...	Harold
Roberta Woolley	...	Christine
Melvyn Hayes	...	Newsboy
Cordelia Mitchell	...	Hilda's baby

Storyline

Amy and Jim Preston have been married for twenty years but, in her husband's eyes, she has become sloppy both about the house and herself. Jim has no problems with falling in love with Georgie Harlow, a fellow-office worker who is pretty and young...and willing. Jim finally asks Amy for a divorce so he can marry Georgie, and Amy pleads for him to stay but he walks out. He soon realizes that he can't go through with the desertion of Amy and their teen-age son, Brian, and returns home.

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Plot Keywords:

middle aged woman | desertion | divorce | husband threatens to leave wife | domestic drama | 

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Taglines:

We don't want to mislead you. It is true the plot of "Woman In A Dressing Gown" is of a sensational nature. But it's not for senstaion-seekers. We tell with honesty and taste the story of two women, one young, the other somewhat older, who share the love of one man. It's strong stuff and candid- yet done so well it already has won the International Critics' Best Picture Award and a special award for acting.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 1958 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Den andra kvinnan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Godwin-Willis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of ITV Television Playhouse: Woman in a Dressing Gown (1956)

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Soundtracks

"Cuban Beguine"
(uncredited)
Music by Francis Chagrin
KPM Music Ltd

User Reviews

Even as a pre-teen I was touched by the wife's desperation.

I remember watching this film as a young girl. It was a bit over my head as far as the complexity of emotions but the situation was quite clear. The story of a middle aged couple: the husband, still attractive and a bit worldly, has become attracted to a young woman...the wife, a bit shop-worn and, having been a housewife and entirely devoted only to her family for nearly two decades, appears dull in the eyes of her husband. However, so moving was the performance of Ms. Mitchell as the wife, so clear the pain and desperation she displayed in attempting to keep her husband when it becomes clear she is losing him, that I remembered nearly every bit of the movie and retained it until years later when I could feel full empathy for her. I see this movie as a sad, sweet study of a universal type of woman: the house-bound, devoted and totally self-sacrificing wife who has, perhaps, given too much of herself to her family and kept too little for herself.