The Gentle Sex
Seven 'gentle' British girls who decide to "do their bit" and help out during World War II.
1943 | 92m | English
Popularity: 0.5 (history)
| Director: | Leslie Howard, Maurice Elvey |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Moie Charles |
| Staring: |
| 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: | May 23, 1943 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Leslie Howard, Maurice Elvey |
| Writer: | Moie Charles |
| Genres: | Comedy, Drama, War |
| Keywords | |
| Production Companies | Two Cities Films, J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Concanen Productions, Derrick De Marney Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 03, 2024 (Update) Entered: Apr 27, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Joan Gates | Gwen Hayden |
| Jean Gillie | Jean Gillie |
| Joan Greenwood | Betty Miller |
| Joyce Howard | Anne Lawrence |
| Rosamund John | Maggie Fraser |
| Lilli Palmer | Erna Debruski |
| Barbara Waring | Joan Simpson |
| John Justin | Flying Officer David Sheridan |
| Elliott Mason | Mrs. Fraser |
| Tony Bazell | Ted |
| Frederick Leister | Colonel Lawrence |
| Everley Gregg | Miss Simpson |
| John Laurie | Scots Corporal |
| Mary Jerrold | Mrs. Sheridan |
| Meriel Forbes | Junior Commander Davis |
| Noreen Craven | Convoy Sergeant |
| Miles Malleson | Tran Guard |
| Jimmy Hanley | 1st Soldier |
| Frederick Peisley | 2nd Soldier |
| Ronald Shiner | Racegoer |
| Harry Welchman | Captain Ferrier |
| Rosalyn Boulter | Telephonist |
| Leslie Howard | Narrator (voice) |
| Grace Arnold | Restaurant Attendant (uncredited) |
| Frank Atkinson | Restaurant Customer (uncredited) |
| Claude Bailey | Staff Officer (uncredited) |
| Hyma Beckley | Man at Railway Station (uncredited) |
| Peter Cotes | Taffy (uncredited) |
| Amy Dalby | Lady Behind the Bar at the Dance (uncredited) |
| Richard George | Naval Officer (uncredited) |
| Jack May | Postman (uncredited) |
| Roland Pertwee | Captain (uncredited) |
| Johnnie Schofield | Sgt. in Dance Cafe (uncredited) |
| Nicholas Stuart | British Officer (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Leslie Howard | Director |
| Carmen Dillon | Art Direction |
| Robert Krasker | Director of Photography |
| Maurice Elvey | Co-Director |
| Irene Howard | Casting |
| Moie Charles | Writer |
| Charles Saunders | Editor |
| Paul Sheriff | Supervising Art Director |
| C.P. Norman | Art Direction |
| Cyril J. Knowles | Camera Operator |
| Ray Sturgess | Camera Operator |
| John Greenwood | Original Music Composer |
| Marjorie Whittle | Assistant Hairstylist |
| Vincent Permane | Production Manager |
| Herbert Smith | Executive In Charge Of Production |
| Cecil Gurney | Assistant Director |
| Charles Tasto | Sound Mixer |
| A.W. Watkins | Sound Recordist |
| Derick Williams | Special Effects |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Derrick De Marney | Producer |
| Leslie Howard | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trending Position
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 t ... hey 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.