Young and Willing (1962)

University students form relationships and perform pranks with disastrous consequences all round.

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

Laurence Doble (play), Nicholas Phipps

Stars:

Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, Ian McShane

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Virginia Maskell	...	Virginia Chown
Paul Rogers	...	Prof. George Chown
Ian McShane	...	Harry Brown
Samantha Eggar	...	Josie Stevens
Katherine Woodville	...	Sarah Phillips
David Sumner	...	John Agincourt
John Hurt	...	Phil Corbett
John Standing	...	Arthur
Johnny Briggs	...	Dai Hawkins
Johnny Sekka	...	Reggie
Jeremy Brett	...	Andrew Gilby
Charles Kay	...	Edgar Tibbs
John Barrie	...	Mr. Corbett
Megs Jenkins	...	Mrs. Corbett
Victor Brooks	...	Fire Chief

Storyline

Harry Brown (Ian McShane in his introductory movie role) is a somewhat rough student (the wild) at Kilminster University, who has the ability to win friends, especially the underdogs like Phil (Sir John Hurt in his introductory movie role) who doesn't play "rugger", and can't sink a whole pint of beer, and African student Reggie (Johnny Sekka). He also has a way with the girls (the willing), one of whom is his professor's wife, who likes the students, but also her comfortable life with her boring husband more. After Harry is rebuffed, he takes up the challenge to hang a banner from the dangerously crumbling University tower. The rather weak Phil insists on being part of this escapade. This is a rather interesting movie showing a university of the early 1960s as a melting pot where many different rungs of society meet, and its message is still relevant today.

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Plot Keywords:

university | based on play | 

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Taglines:

A Story of the Opposite Sexes...and the Same Needs...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Ian McShane received an "introducing" credit. This is his movie debut.

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Connections

Referenced in The Final Reel (2016)

User Reviews

Mediocre plot despite accomplished actors

Christmas Day 2016 was the first time I saw this film despite my 70 years of age.Was this because British TV networks did not consider this film had enough popular appeal?I enjoyed seeing a young Ian McShane(Lovejoy), Samantha Eggar, John Hurt. Johnny Briggs, (Mike Baldwin in Coronation Street), Jeremy Brett, David Sumner the latter of whom I had not seen since he played Patrick Sullavan in the mid sixties long running t.v.series "The Sullavan Brothers".As to the plot of university students who never seem to do any study but spend their time larking around even finding time to have an affair with a tutor's wife; I found unconvincing.Every undergraduate I have met are kept busy studying their subject, going to tutorials and lectures, writing essays if they are serious using tax payers money, (remember this is 1962 and one could study at University then at the tax payers expense) to fund their study.Even though this was filmed in 1962 which is now 54 years ago, the actors still looked too old!

The script was variable and I awarded this film 6/10 as above average.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1963 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Young and Willing

Filming Locations:

Bishop Grotteste College, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Betty E. Box-Ralph Thomas Productions, The Rank Organisation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White