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

Writers:

Ted Willis (original story), Ted Willis (original screenplay)

Stars:

Yvonne Mitchell, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms

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

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Yvonne Mitchell	...	Amy
Anthony Quayle	...	Jim
Sylvia Syms	...	Georgie
Andrew Ray	...	Brian
Carole Lesley	...	Hilda
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 Monsey	...	Hilda's Baby (as Cordelia Mitchell)

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 teenage son, Brian, and returns home.

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | domestic drama | slovenliness | infidelity | middle aged woman | 

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Taglines:

Why not a movie about illicit love? It's real. It happens.--And it's a great picture.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Set largely in the fictitious housing estate of Nightingale House, exterior shots were filmed at Wiltshire House in Chelsea, London.

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Quotes

Jim Preston: You see the same woman every day - you don't see them at all.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Oh, Oh Antonio
(uncredited)
Written by Dan Lipton and C.W. Murphy

User Reviews

Bravura performance by Yvonne Mitchell

This film from 1957 warns married women that too much devotion to husband & family often rebounds as they may often be tempted to take you for granted and start treating you like an unpaid servant.The trend now is for intelligent married women to have some "me time" which could involve developing their hobbies, pastimes interests & travelling on their own.Married women in 1957 were not so independent and relied too much on their husbands for emotional support and for material comforts.Of course today in 2018 the woman's movement has done a lot to help their own sex and with two female prime ministers, equal sexual rights legislation, and has changed a great deal for women over the last 60 years.Yvonne Mitchell's character is not well educated but always means well in dealing with her family.She is disorganised and inefficient which seems to cause great frustration to Anthony Quaile who plays her husband and who feels life has been slipping away from him and feels impelled to seek an office affair with his secretary (played by Sylvia Sims) at the firm of timber importers at which they both work.Young Andrew Ray (son of comic Ted Ray) plays their son who is caught in the middle of his parents marital strife.I rated this wholly British produced B&W film 7/10 which I saw on "Talking Pictures" channel 81 tonight.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 1958 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Den andra kvinnan

Filming Locations:

Wiltshire Close, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,371

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Godwin-Willis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1