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ComedyDramaWar

The Gentle Sex

- Seven 'gentle' British girls who decide to "do their bit" and help out during World War II.

During the War seven women from very different backgrounds find themselves together in the Auxiliary Territorial Services. They are soon drilling, driving lorries, and manning ack-ack batteries.

Release Date : 1943-05-23

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Derrick De Marney ProductionsTwo Cities FilmsConcanen ProductionsJ. Arthur Rank Organisation

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Joan Gates

Character Name : Gwen Hayden

Original Name : Joan Gates

Gender : Female

Jean Gillie

Character Name : Jean Gillie

Original Name : Jean Gillie

Gender : Female

Joan Greenwood

Character Name : Betty Miller

Original Name : Joan Greenwood

Gender : Female

Joyce Howard

Character Name : Anne Lawrence

Original Name : Joyce Howard

Gender : Female

Rosamund John

Character Name : Maggie Fraser

Original Name : Rosamund John

Gender : Female

Lilli Palmer

Character Name : Erna Debruski

Original Name : Lilli Palmer

Gender : Female

Barbara Waring

Character Name : Joan Simpson

Original Name : Barbara Waring

Gender : Male

John Justin

Character Name : Flying Officer David Sheridan

Original Name : John Justin

Gender : Male

Elliott Mason

Character Name : Mrs. Fraser

Original Name : Elliott Mason

Gender : Female

Tony Bazell

Character Name : Ted

Original Name : Tony Bazell

Gender : Male

Frederick Leister

Character Name : Colonel Lawrence

Original Name : Frederick Leister

Gender : Male

Everley Gregg

Character Name : Miss Simpson

Original Name : Everley Gregg

Gender : Female

John Laurie

Character Name : Scots Corporal

Original Name : John Laurie

Gender : Male

Mary Jerrold

Character Name : Mrs. Sheridan

Original Name : Mary Jerrold

Gender : Female

Meriel Forbes

Character Name : Junior Commander Davis

Original Name : Meriel Forbes

Gender : Female

Noreen Craven

Character Name : Convoy Sergeant

Original Name : Noreen Craven

Gender : Male

Miles Malleson

Character Name : Tran Guard

Original Name : Miles Malleson

Gender : Male

Jimmy Hanley

Character Name : 1st Soldier

Original Name : Jimmy Hanley

Gender : Male

Frederick Peisley

Character Name : 2nd Soldier

Original Name : Frederick Peisley

Gender : Male

Ronald Shiner

Character Name : Racegoer

Original Name : Ronald Shiner

Gender : Male

Harry Welchman

Character Name : Captain Ferrier

Original Name : Harry Welchman

Gender : Male

Rosalyn Boulter

Character Name : Telephonist

Original Name : Rosalyn Boulter

Gender : Male

Leslie Howard

Character Name : Narrator (voice)

Original Name : Leslie Howard

Gender : Male

Grace Arnold

Character Name : Restaurant Attendant (uncredited)

Original Name : Grace Arnold

Gender : Female

Frank Atkinson

Character Name : Restaurant Customer (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Atkinson

Gender : Male

Claude Bailey

Character Name : Staff Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Claude Bailey

Gender : Male

Hyma Beckley

Character Name : Man at Railway Station (uncredited)

Original Name : Hyma Beckley

Gender : Male

Peter Cotes

Character Name : Taffy (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Cotes

Gender : Male

Amy Dalby

Character Name : Lady Behind the Bar at the Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Amy Dalby

Gender : Female

Richard George

Character Name : Naval Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard George

Gender : Male

Jack May

Character Name : Postman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack May

Gender : Male

Roland Pertwee

Character Name : Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Roland Pertwee

Gender : Male

Johnnie Schofield

Character Name : Sgt. in Dance Cafe (uncredited)

Original Name : Johnnie Schofield

Gender : Male

Nicholas Stuart

Character Name : British Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Nicholas Stuart

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-26

This is more of a docu-drama, depicting as it does the efforts of the women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in the UK during WWII. It's not quite propaganda - it does show some of the hairier, scarier aspects of their jobs amidst the war - but it does largely focus on the huge range of tasks they undertook from sight-ranging for the guns trying to stop the doodlebugs to driving essential supplies from one end of the country to the other to keep the logistical wheels of warfare working efficiently. Leslie Howard has interwoven these factually based scenarios with some strong fictional characterisations from the likes of Joan Greenwood and Lilli Palmer supported by John Laurie, Jimmy Handley and Miles Malleson to create a tapestry effect merging the varied aspects of their lives. It's a fascinating - if maybe just a bit too dry - film to watch that showcases well all the sterling efforts involved.