The Fast Lady (1962)

A naive Scotsman buys a vintage sports car and learns to drive in order to impress the daughter of an arrogant aristocrat who despises him.

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writers:

Keble Howard (by), Jack Davies (screenplay)

Stars:

Leslie Phillips, Julie Christie, James Robertson Justice

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leslie Phillips	...	Freddie Fox
Julie Christie	...	Claire Chingford
James Robertson Justice	...	Charles Chingford
Stanley Baxter	...	Murdoch Troon
Kathleen Harrison	...	Mrs. Staggers
Eric Barker	...	Wentworth
Fred Emney	...	1st Golfer
Eddie Gray	...	2nd Golfer (as Monsewer Eddie Gray)
Frankie Howerd	...	Road Workman in Hole
Raymond Baxter	...	Himself
John Bolster	...	Himself
Graham Hill	...	Himself
John Surtees	...	Himself
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Bodley
Oliver Johnston	...	Bulmer

Storyline

Murdoch Troon, an enthusiastic member of the local cycling club, gets involved with Charles Chingford, a local businessman, when the two of them are involved in an accident. Then Murdoch meets Chingford's daughter, Claire, who persuades him to give up the bicycle, buy a sports car, and learn to drive. At first he is horrified, but the thought of dating the attractive Claire, he relents, and takes his first driving lesson.

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Plot Keywords:

naivety | bicycle | scotsman | aristocrat | driving lesson | 

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Taglines:

She's the fastest thing in town and oh boy! what a CHASSIS!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Garota dos Meus Pecados

Filming Locations:

Independent Artists Studios, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three cars - the large American car that Freddie's first girlfriend drives, Freddie's green Bentley ("The Fast Lady"), and the red sports car that Freddie's second girlfriend drives - all have their real white-on-black number plates covered up by the same white-on-red trade plates with the registration "616 H". Trade plates are used by the motor trade when driving vehicles which are untaxed, and the implication is that Freddie has been "borrowing" the cars and the trade plates from the garage where he works.

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Goofs

When Troon knocks the spare wheel sending it running down the hill, the wires holding it erect and straight can clearly be seen.

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Connections

Featured in The Car's the Star: Austin Healey (1995)

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Soundtracks

A Scottish Soldier
(uncredited)
Traditional
Lyrics by Andy Stewart

User Reviews

A real gem

As a child of about 8 I had a mania for cars. This was back in the late 70s, when there were still a lot of cars from the 50s and 60s on the roads. I remember this film came on the telly one afternoon and I was absolutely hooked, loads of great cars...and it was really funny too!

The film is a bit patchy (the daydream near the start is a bit overdone) but overall it's a real cracker of a film, you definitely come away from it with a big smile on your face. It's also a real 'spot the actor' film.

Personally I love seeing all the bygone street scenery (the black and white striped signposts, the North Thames Gas Board shop with all the old fridges in the window, etc) and the great old British cars. I now live in the States and seeing this film makes me pine for the Old Country a bit!

The film's now out on DVD, well worth another look.