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. The screenplay was by Vernon Sylvaine and Lawrence Huntington based on Sylvaine's 1948 play of the same title.
Contents
Plot
Solicitor Humphrey Proudfoot attempts to discourage his daughter 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 solicitor's own shady background.
Cast
Robertson Hare as Humphrey Proudfoot
Stanley Holloway as Alfred Gilbey
Sam Costa as Mr. Pepys
Andrew Crawford as Fred Gilbey
Vera Pearce as Mrs. Gilbey
June Sylvaine as Cherrie Proudfoot
Robert Moreton as Throstle
Constance Lorne as Mrs. Proudfoot
Gwen Cherrell as Audrey Cuttle #1
Irene Handl as Emily Pepys (Audrey Cuttle #2)
Ingeborg von Kusserow as Gloria Samson (as Ingeborg Wells)
Charles Groves as Charles
Joan Rice as Annie (maid)
Audrey Hepburn as the hotel receptionist
Fred Berger as Samson
William Fox as the porter
Roger Moore bit part (uncredited)
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
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."
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."