''Josephine and Men'' is a 1955 British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Roy Boulting John Edward Boulting (21 December 1913 – 17 June 1985) and Roy Alfred Clarence Boulting (21 December 1913 – 5 November 2001), known collectively as the Boulting brothers, were English filmmakers and identical twins who became known for thei ...

and starring

Glynis Johns Glynis Margaret Payne Johns (born 5 October 1923) is a South African-born British former actress, dancer, musician and singer. Recognised as a film and Broadway icon, Johns has a career spanning eight decades, in which she appeared in more than ...

Jack Buchanan Walter John Buchanan (2 April 1891 – 20 October 1957) was a Scottish theatre and film actor, singer, dancer, producer and director. He was known for three decades as the embodiment of the debonair man-about-town in the tradition of George G ...

Donald Sinden Sir Donald Alfred Sinden (9 October 1923 – 12 September 2014) was a British actor. Sinden featured in the film ''Mogambo'' (1953), and achieved early fame as a Rank Organisation film star in the 1950s in films including ''The Cruel Sea (195 ...

and Peter Finch. It also features

William Hartnell William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the first incarnation of the Doctor in '' Doctor Who'' from 1963 to 1966. In film, Hartnell notably appeared in '' Bri ...

Gerald Sim Gerald Grant Sim (4 June 1925 – 11 December 2014) was an English television and film actor who is perhaps best known for having played the Rector in '' To the Manor Born''. Career Sim was born in Liverpool, Lancashire and made over a hundred ...

Thorley Walters Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in '' Two-Way Stretch'' and '' Carlton-Browne of the FO''. Early life Walters was born in T ...

Victor Maddern Victor Jack Maddern (16 March 1928 – 22 June 1993) was an English actor. He was described by ''The Telegraph'' as having "one of the most distinctive and eloquent faces in post-war British cinema." Life and career Born in Seven Kings, ...

and

John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier (, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 191215 November 1983) was an English actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation c ...

in supporting roles. Produced by the

Boulting Brothers John Edward Boulting (21 December 1913 – 17 June 1985) and Roy Alfred Clarence Boulting (21 December 1913 – 5 November 2001), known collectively as the Boulting brothers, were English filmmakers and identical twins who became known for thei ...

it was shot at

Shepperton Studios Shepperton Studios is a film studio located in Shepperton, Surrey, England, with a history dating back to 1931. It is now part of the Pinewood Studios Group. During its early existence, the studio was branded as Sound City (not to be confused ...

and distributed by British Lion Films.

Plot

Josephine's (Glynis Johns) story is told in flashback by her suave bachelor uncle (Jack Buchanan). We hear how she rejects her wealthy fiancé Alan (Donald Sinden)(who owns a Bristol 405 car) for his friend David (Peter Finch), an unsuccessful playwright. But when their situations are reversed, Josephine's interest in David starts to wane. She is a woman we hear, always drawn to underdogs. Mr Charles Luton (

) is living in a hotel and on good terms with the receptionist and barman. He tells them of his problem with women. He then starts explaining his niece, Josephine... he describes her moral campaigning as being a "one-woman Salvation Army". Josephine introduces her fiancee, Alan Hartley (

), to the uncle over dinner. All three go to visit "whats-his-name" ( Peter Finch) in a run down tenement. He lives on the top floor and a half-dressed Italian girl storms off as they arrive. "Whats-his-name", David Hewer, an unemployed playwright, is living in squalor. Josephine offers to wash the big pile of dishes. His attic flat has a rooftop view over other houses to two gasometers in the mid-distance... which although seen as a romantic view would then be seen as undesirable. Josephine leaves her gloves so she has an excuse to return alone. She tidies a bit and leaves, almost forgetting her gloves. They shake hands. Back at Josephine's parents house, Alan, Josephine and her parents inspect the wedding presents. The parents look down upon the electroplated silver tray, as an inferior gift. However, Josephine tells Alan she wants to break off the engagement and marry David Hewer... but he does not know yet. Josephine makes it clear that she must marry the person who needs her most i.e. the underdog. David and Josephine marry at a registry office on Friday 13 April. The Italian girl and the Bohemian living in David's tenement act as witnesses. Alan forgives them both and sends a silver Georgian teapot as a wedding gift. David writes two successful comedies: "Love on a Crust" and "Hard Cheese". Meanwhile Alan concentrates on his professional life and becomes hugely successful. Jo and David move to a remote country cottage. Uncle Charlie comes to visit (with quite a lot of luggage). The police arrive at Alan Hartley's house looking to arrest him for obtaining money by deception. Although this does not appear to be his own fault, he flees. He runs to David and Jo arriving in heavy rain having walked 15 miles. Alan is invited to stay but David starts to become paranoid that he will be discovered there and they might all be arrested. Jo starts to gravitate towards Alan as his "need" is greater. The police arrive at the cottage and ask questions about Hartley. Uncle Charlie and David answer all questions truthfully but in a tactful way to avoid giving any useful information. Uncle Charles says he saw Alan "recently" .... at his club two years ago. Alan discusses his plan to escape to

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

with Jo. Uncle Charles returns to find Jo and Alan kissing in the cottage. David gets fed up with it all and goes to the pub. Uncle Charles joins him later, but David rushes off after making a phone call. Jo and Alan are stopped by police while driving. He gives himself up and at the station discovers that his partner left a note taking full blame. Jo instantly realises she is not needed by him and she must return to David. At home Uncle Charlie gets her to rewrite her goodbye note.

Cast

as Josephine ("Jo") Luton *

as Uncle Charles Luton *

as Alan Hartley * Peter Finch as David Hewer * Heather Thatcher as Aunt May Luton *

Ronald Squire Ronald Launcelot Squire (25 March 1886 – 16 November 1958) was an English character actor. Biography Born in Tiverton, Devon, England, the son of an army officer, Lt.-Col. Frederick Squirl and his Irish-born wife Mary (Ronald's surname 'Sq ...

as Frederick Luton, Josephine's father *

as Inspector Parsons *

as Henry *

as Detective Sergeant Allen *

Hugh Moxey Hugh Vincent Moxey (27 September 1909, Somerset, – 9 March 1991, Wandsworth), was a British film and television actor. Moxey spanned his career for 40 years, where he was best remembered in supporting roles in 1950s British war films, incl ...

as Police Inspector *

Sam Kydd Samuel John Kydd (15 February 1915 – 26 March 1982) was a British-Irish actor. His best-known roles were in two major British television series of the 1960s, as the smuggler Orlando O'Connor in '' Crane'' and its sequel ''Orlando''. He als ...

as Police Sergeant * Tonie MacMillan as Mrs. McFee * Wally Patch as pub landlord * Peggy Ann Clifford as barmaid *

as vacuum cleaner salesman *

Laurence Naismith Laurence Naismith (born Lawrence Johnson; 14 December 1908 – 5 June 1992) was an English actor. He made numerous film and television appearances, including starring roles in the musical films '' Scrooge'' (1970) and the children's ghost fil ...

as Porter *

as Registrar *

Lisa Gastoni Lisa Gastoni (born 28 July 1935) is an Italian film actress. Gastoni was named "Best Italian Actress of the Year, 1966" as she received both the Nastro D'Argento Award and the Golden Globe Award from Italy's Foreign Press Association.} Biograp ...

as Italian Girl * Michael Ward as Bohemian, living in Hewer's tenement * Edward Cast as Motorcycle Policeman * Jacques Cey as André * Harold Goodwin as Garage Mechanic

Critical reception

''Britmovie'' wrote, "the lightweight and stagey story is framed in flashback by the debonair Jack Buchanan’s narration but fails to exude any humour or convincing romance." while the '' Radio Times'' concluded, "not as funny as it could have been, but the cast is likeable."

References

External links

* {{Boulting brothers 1955 films 1955 comedy films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Roy Boulting British comedy films Films with screenplays by Nigel Balchin Films shot at Shepperton Studios British Lion Films films Films set in London 1950s British films