One Wild Oat is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Stanley Holloway, Robertson Hare and Sam Costa with pre-stardom appearances by Audrey Hepburn and Roger Moore as extras.[1] The screenplay was by Vernon Sylvaine and Lawrence Huntington based on Sylvaine's 1948 play of the same title.

One Wild Oat
DVD cover, featuring (Left to right): Robertson Hare, Irene Handl and Stanley Holloway
Directed byCharles Saunders
Written byLawrence Huntington
Screenplay byVernon Sylvaine
Based onOne Wild Oat
by Vernon Sylvaine (play)
Produced byJohn Croydon
StarringStanley Holloway
Robertson Hare
Sam Costa
CinematographyRobert Navarro
Edited byMargery Saunders
Music byStanley Black
Production
company
Coronet Films
Distributed byEros Films
Release date
  • 16 May 1951 (1951-05-16)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Barrister Humphrey Proudfoot attempts to discourage his Cherrie's infatuation for Fred, a philanderer, by revealing Fred's past. The plan backfires when Alfred Gilbey, the daughter's would-be father-in-law, threatens to reveal the barrister's own shady background.

Cast

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Production

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Theatre Programme from the original West End production.

It was made at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith with sets designed by the art director Ivan King.The stage production debuted at the Garrick Theatre in London and was directed by Jack Buchanan.

The stage version starred Robertson Hare, who reprised his role for the film, and Arthur Riscoe (who replaced Alfred Drayton following his death in 1949), the part being played by Stanley Holloway in the screen version.

June Sylvaine, who played Cherrie Proudfoot in the stage and film versions, was the wife of Vernon Sylvaine.

Critical reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is a routine adaptation of the stage farce, cast in the familiar mould. Robertson Hare repeats his stage performance with gusto, and has a hardworking team-mate in Stanley Holloway. Innuendo-laden dialogue produces the requisite number of laughs."[2]

Variety wrote: "A successful British stage farce of last season, One Wild Oat has been transferred to the screen with the minimum of adjustment. It is given the broad laughter treatment that invariably rates high with British audiences, but it cannot expect to make anything of impact on the U.S. market."[3]

References

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  1. ^ "One Wild Oat". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. ^ "One Wild Oat". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 18 (204): 235. 1 January 1951 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ "One Wild Oat". Variety. 182 (12): 6. 30 May 1951 – via ProQuest.
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