French Without Tears (film)

French Without Tears
Film poster
Directed by	Anthony Asquith
Produced by	Mario Zampi
Written by	Ian Dalrymple Anatole de Grunwald Terence Rattigan
Starring	Ray Milland
Music by	Nicholas Brodszky Clive Richardson (uncredited)
Cinematography	Bernard Knowles
Edited by	David Lean
Production company	Two Cities Films
Distributed by	Paramount
Release dates	1939 (1939)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

French Without Tears is a 1939 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Ray Milland. It was based on the play of the same name by Terence Rattigan who also co-wrote the script. An on-off working relationship between Asquith and Rattigan began with this film and continued over the next 15 years.

Plot

The love affairs of three young Englishmen at a language "cramming" school in the south of France. Diana, the sister of one of the boys, arrives in town to flirt with all of her brothers' schoolmates.

Cast

• Ray Milland as Alan Howard
• Ellen Drew as Diana Lake
• Janine Darcey as Jacqueline Maingot
• David Tree as Chris Neilan
• Roland Culver as Cmdr. Bill Rogers
• Guy Middleton as Brian Curtis
• Kenneth Morgan as Kenneth Lake
• Margaret Yarde as Marianne
• Toni Gable as Chi-Chi
• Jim Gérald as Professor Maingot
• Mantovani as Himself - Orchestra Leader
• Stella Roberts
• Peters Sisters

Critical reception

Sky Movies described a "sparkling version of Terence Rattigan's comedy play. The import of Ellen Drew and Ray Milland from Hollywood ensured the film's success world-wide." Writing for Allmovie, Hal Erickson wrote, "much of the wit and zest of the original stage production has been blunted for the screen, moving one critic to describe French Without Tears as "Comedy Without Laughs". In all fairness, however, the film does boast a hilarious drunk scene in a musty old French wine cellar."

External links

• French Without Tears at IMDb