A Nice Girl Like Me
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1969 |
Key people | Desmond Davis (director), Millard Lampell (screenplay), Barbara Ferris, Harry Andrews (actors) |
| Products | Comedy film |
A Nice Girl Like Me is a 1969 British comedy film under the direction of Desmond Davis, featuring performances by Barbara Ferris and Harry Andrews. The screenplay, penned by Millard Lampell, adapts Anne Piper's 1959 novel Marry at Leisure.
Plot
The narrative centers on a young woman residing with her cunning aunts who, following a journey abroad, finds herself expecting a child and must keep the baby's true father a secret from them.
Cast
- Barbara Ferris as Candida
- Harry Andrews as Savage, the caretaker
- Gladys Cooper as Aunt Mary
- William Hinnant as Ed
- James Villiers as Freddie
- Joyce Carey as Aunt Celia
- Christopher Guinee as Pierre
- Fabia Drake as Miss Grimsby
- Irene Prador as Mme. Dupont
- Erik Chitty as vicar
- Totti Truman Taylor as Miss Charter
- John Serret as museum attendant
- John Clive as supermarket shopper
- Ann Lancaster as Miss Garland
- Shelagh Wilcocks as labour ward sister
- Susan Whitman as labour ward nurse
- Douglas Wilmer as postnatal clinic doctor
- Jane Kenealy as baby
Production
Originally publicized in May 1967 with Stanley Baker attached both to produce and star alongside Hayley Mills, the project was slated to commence filming in August. By May 1968, Barbara Ferris had been cast in the lead role with Desmond Davis directing; Ferris had recently achieved success on Broadway with There's a Girl in My Soup. Principal photography began in July 1968.
Filming locations included Paris, Venice, and various London sites such as Chiswick and the Hammersmith riverside. The casting plans changed over time, initially aiming for Stanley Baker to headline, then briefly considering Michael J Pollard opposite Ferris.
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin characterized the film as "a saccharine tale about an insufferable suburban miss prone to pregnancy after even brief trips to the Continent," highlighting the "soft focus" cinematography by Manny Wynn and Gil Taylor along with picturesque shots of London, Paris, and Venice. Although hampered by a cloying script and lackluster direction, strong performances from Gladys Cooper, Joyce Carey, Fabia Drake, James Villiers, and notably Harry Andrews prevented the film from becoming an utter failure.
According to The Spinning Image, the movie represented a polished effort merging glossy promotional visuals with a bold storyline about single motherhood. It diverged from more hard-edged social dramas of the 1960s like Cathy Come Home or Up the Junction. While somewhat artificial in its nostalgic tone, it has aged surprisingly well by fitting comfortably within the Swinging Sixties archetype, largely due to its central romantic dynamic.