''The Rough and the Smooth'' (alternative title: ''Portrait of a Sinner'') is a 1959 British drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring

Nadja Tiller Nadja Tiller (born 16 March 1929 in Vienna, Austria) is an Austrian actress. She was one of the most popular German-speaking actresses of international films of the 1950s and 1960s. Biography Nadja Tiller, daughter of actor Anton Tiller of Vie ...

, Tony Britton, William Bendix and Natasha Parry. The screenplay concerns an

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

who has an affair with a German woman, putting his engagement to another woman in jeopardy. The film was shot at the MGM-British Studios and on location around London.Encounter with Siodmak Taylor, Russell. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 28, Iss. 3, (Summer 1959): 180. It was based on the 1951 novel by Robin Maugham. It was distributed in Germany by Gloria Film. In 1961 it was given an American release by American International Pictures.

Plot

In late 1950s London an upper-class archeologist Mike Thompson (Tony Britton) by chance meets a mysterious German woman Ila Hansen (Nadja Tiller) in a bar; later they share a taxi and he takes her back to the house where he lives with his parents. They embark on a torrid love affair during which she constantly lies and deceives him and threatens to ruin his long-term relationship with his fiancee, Margaret Goreham (Natasha Parry).

Cast

as Ila Hansen * Tony Britton as Mike Thompson * William Bendix as Reg Barker * Natasha Parry as Margaret Goreham * Norman Wooland as David Fraser * Donald Wolfit as Lord Drewell * Tony Wright as Jack * Adrienne Corri as Jane Buller * Joyce Carey as Mrs. Thompson *

John Welsh John Welsh may refer to: *John Welsh of Ayr (1568–1622), religious leader *John Welsh of Irongray, religious leader *John Welsh (actor) (1904–1985), Irish actor *John Welsh (Australian footballer) (born 1938), Australian rules football player f ...

as Dr. Thompson *

Martin Miller Martin Miller may refer to: * Martin Miller (actor) (1899–1969), Czech actor *Martin Miller (cricketer, born 1940), English cricketer *Martin Miller (cricketer, born 1972), English cricketer *Martin Miller (footballer) (born 1997), Estonian footba ...

as Piggy * Michael Ward as Headwaiter * Edward Chapman as Willy Catch * Norman Pierce as Barman * Beatrice Varley as Hotel Manageress * Geoffrey Bayldon as Ransom

References

External links

* 1959 films 1959 drama films 1950s English-language films British drama films Films about infidelity Films directed by Robert Siodmak Films scored by Douglas Gamley Films set in London Films based on British novels Films shot at MGM-British Studios 1950s British films {{1950s-UK-film-stub