Notorious Gentleman (1945)

Vivian Kenway (Sir Rex Harrison), a young Englishman from an aristocratic background, flunks out of Oxford, and decides to use his considerable charm to achieve his goal of, apparently, ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Gilliat

Writers:

Val Valentine (the story written by), Sidney Gilliat (the screen play written by)

Stars:

Rex Harrison, Lilli Palmer, Godfrey Tearle

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rex Harrison	...	Vivian Kenway
Lilli Palmer	...	Rikki Krausner
Godfrey Tearle	...	Colonel Robert Kenway
Griffith Jones	...	Sandy Duncan
Margaret Johnston	...	Jennifer Calthorp
Guy Middleton	...	Fogroy
Jean Kent	...	Jill Duncan
Marie Lohr	...	Lady Angela Parks
Garry Marsh	...	Sir Hubert Parks
David Horne	...	Sir John Brockley
Alan Wheatley	...	Edwards
Brefni O'Rorke	...	Bromhead
John Salew	...	Burgess
Charles Victor	...	Old Sweat
Jan Van Loewen	...	Soldier (as Jan van Loewen)

Storyline

Vivian Kenway (Sir Rex Harrison), a young Englishman from an aristocratic background, flunks out of Oxford, and decides to use his considerable charm to achieve his goal of, apparently, making dissipation his career. His derelictions include seduction, betrayals of sweethearts, family and friends, and marriage for money. All this with no signs of remorse or redemption, since his life as a completely unprincipled rake is quite enjoyable, for him, at least. Then, World War II breaks out and he is given a chance to die a heroic death for flag and country. Maybe.

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Plot Keywords:

corruption | sweetheart | seduction | rake | oxford | 

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Taglines:

The private life of a magnificent heel...who brought out the woman in women!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In her 1975 memoir "Change Lobsters and Dance", Lilli Palmer recalled how she had to rush from the studio hair department wearing curlers on hearing that a German bomb had exploded at the foot of her garden. She and Sir Rex Harrison returned to their house Brackenwood in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England to find the windows and some doors blown in. Their infant son, Carey, had been in his pram on the patio. Although covered in glass fragments, he was not injured, protected by a rhododendron bush. None of the numerous staff were injured either.

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Goofs

Although the bulk of the film takes place in the years 1931-1938, all of the women's hairstyles and clothes are strictly in the 1945 mode, which is all wrong, particularly for the 1931 period.

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Quotes

Vivian as a Boy: I'm going to Eton later on.
Coldstream Guardsman: Eton? Oh I say!
Old Sweat: Eton's no joking matter old cock. Half the war cabinet came from there.
Vivian as a Boy: Well they won the war for us, didn't they.
Old Sweat: No. I'll tell you who's done that for you, if you like. Me. And 'im. The common fighting man. The most long-suffering bloomin' animal in 'uman creation. Forgotten in peacetime. A 'uman target in wartime. And bewitched and bewildered all the time.

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Connections

Referenced in The Man Who Ruined the British Film Industry (1996)

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Soundtracks

Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty
(uncredited)
Written by A.J. Mills, Fred Godfrey and Bennett Scott

User Reviews

I saw this film in America when it was called "Notorious Gentleman"

It is never an easy thing to watch a cad and bounder on film for 2 hours and come away feeling satisfied. But his film manages to do that because of it's wit and wonderful cast. Harrison is superb and Lili Palmer is at her very best. I had not seen this for 65 years and yet I remember it as though it was last week. One very odd goof in the film takes place in a car with Rex being driven by the character Jenny. He opens the door to get out before the car stops. He exits while the scenery goes whizzing by. One might expect to see him in a heap on the sidewalk. All in all, a lovely film with nice light touches and some very serious drama. GOOD SHOW

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

1 November 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Notorious Gentleman

Filming Locations:

Smuggler's Cottage, Portreath, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Individual Pictures, Independent Producers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (BAF Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1