''The Woman's Angle'' is 1952 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Leslie Arliss Leslie Arliss (6 October 1901 – 30 December 1987) was an English screenwriter and film director, director. He is best known for his work on the Gainsborough melodramas directing films such as ''The Man in Grey'' and ''The Wicked Lady'' during ...

and starring

Edward Underdown Charles Edward Underdown (3 December 190815 December 1989) was an English theatre, cinema and television actor. Early Life Underdown was the son of Harry Charles Baillie Underdown and Rachel Elizabeth Orr. Born in London, he was educated at Et ...

, Cathy O'Donnell and

Lois Maxwell Lois Ruth Maxwell (née Hooker; February 14, 1927 – September 29, 2007) was a Canadian actress. She was best known for portraying Miss Moneypenny in the first 14 Eon Productions, Eon-produced James Bond in film, ''James Bond'' films (1962–1 ...

. It was written by Arliss, Mabbie Pool and Frederick Gotfurt based on the 1940 novel ''Three Cups of Coffee'' by Ruth Feiner.

Plot

The film is the story of three love affairs of a man who belongs to celebrated family of musicians, culminating in divorce and his final discovery of happiness.

Cast

as Robert Mansell * Cathy O'Donnell as Nina Van Rhyne *

as Enid Mansell * Claude Farell as Delysia Veronova * Peter Reynolds as Brian Mansell * Marjorie Fielding as Mrs. Mansell * Anthony Nicholls as Doctor Nigel Jarvis * Isabel Dean as Isobel Mansell * John Bentley as Renfro Mansell *

Olaf Pooley Oloe Krohn "Olaf" Pooley (13 March 1914 – 14 July 2015) was an English actor, screenwriter and painter. As an actor, he appeared as Professor Stahlman in the seven-part ''Doctor Who'' serial '' Inferno'' (1970). Early life Pooley was born to ...

as Rudolph Mansell * Ernest Thesiger as Judge *

Eric Pohlmann Eric Pohlmann (; born Erich Pollak; 18 July 1913 – 25 July 1979) was an Austrian theatre, film and television character actor who worked mostly in the United Kingdom. He is known for voicing Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the primary antagonist of t ...

as Steffano *

Joan Collins Dame Joan Henrietta Collins (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author and columnist. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Awards, a People's Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Primetime Emm ...

as Marina * Malcolm Knight as shepherd boy * Fred Berger as restaurant manager * Dana Wynter as Elaine * Leslie Weston as Suttley *

Geoffrey Toone Geoffrey Toone (15 November 1910 – 1 June 2005) was an English actor and former matinee idol. He was born in Ireland to English parents. Most of his film roles after the 1930s were in supporting parts, usually as authority figures, though he ...

as Count Cambia * Lea Seidl as Madame Kossoff * Anton Diffring as peasant *

Miles Malleson William Miles Malleson (25 May 1888 – 15 March 1969) was an English actor and dramatist, particularly remembered for his appearances in British comedy films of the 1930s to 1960s. Towards the end of his career, he also appeared in cameo roles ...

as Arthur Secrett *

Peter Illing Peter Illing (4 March 1899 – 29 October 1966) was an Austrian-born British film and television actor. Selected TV series * '' The Four Just Men'' (1959) as Dr Mozek * '' Deadline Midnight'' (1961) as Captain Dnieprovsky * '' The Saint'' (1962 ...

as Sergei * Teddy Johnson as nightclub singer * Sylva Langova as blonde in sleigh *

Bill Shine William Shine (born July 4, 1963) is a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications in the First presidency of Donald Trump, first administration of President of the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump. He spent most of his ...

as Saunders * Nora Gordon as guesthouse owner * Wensley Pithey as Mr Witherspool * Rufus Cruickshank as the Scot * Fred Griffiths as cockney at bus stop

Production

Arliss had been a fan of the novel since he read it in 1944. Peter Reynods was under contract to Associated British at the time.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "As the title suggests, this is no more than the filming of a woman's magazine story, and has the traditional air of unreality. The ingredients – eccentric genius, misunderstandings, music, and a variety of settings – are put together without inspiration." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "The picture, which pivots on the divorce court and is unfolded in flashback, is at times apt to take itself a little too seriously, but it nevertheless contains many touching and amusing moments, lightly spiced with sex. Edward Underdown is not too happily cast as the susceptible Robert, but Lois Maxwell, Claude Farell and Cathy O'Donnel have very definite personalities and register in contrast as Enid, Delsya and Nina respectively. Pleasing musical accompaniment, which includes an original concerto, completes the engaging oracle." ''

Picturegoer ''Picturegoer'' was a fan magazine published in the United Kingdom between 1911 and 23 April 1960. Background The magazine was started in 1911 under the name ''The Pictures'' and in 1914 it merged with ''Picturegoer''. Following the merge it was ...

'' wrote: "Hardly an edifying story, it's true, but the witty sophistication and gaiety with which it is decked out make it an amusing piece with occasional moments of enchantment. Leslie Arliss' direction, helped by some brittle dialogue, slithers skilfully over some very thin ice." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Arliss still making films to a Gainsborough formula that no longer works; novelettish stuff." In ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'',

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though some ...

thought the film "a grim little sample of bad writing, bad acting and bad directing all around."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Woman's Angle, The 1952 films 1952 drama films Films directed by Leslie Arliss Films shot at Associated British Studios British drama films British black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films