The Gentle Sex
Seven 'gentle' British girls who decide to "do their bit" and help out during World War II.
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.
Status
Released
Original Language
EN
Budget
—
Revenue
—
Release Date
May 23, 1943
Popularity
1
Director
Leslie Howard
Writer
Moie Charles
Producer
Derrick De Marney
Producer
Leslie Howard
Where to Watch
Cast
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
Gallery
Reviews
CinemaSerf
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 they 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.
