Jimmy Broadbent (Harrison) and his wife Sheila (Kendall) have invited his American daughter Jane (Dee) to visit. At the airport, they run into busybody Mabel Claremont (Lansburgy) and her daughter Clarissa (Clare). Clarissa is 17 years old, like Jane, and is preparing for debutante season. Mabel talks up the event and Sheila decides that Jane should join the festivities, even though Jane is reluctant.
Jane is bored by all of her dance partners, until her father introduces her to American David Parkson (Saxon). Jane enjoys dancing with David, especially when she learns that he is the drummer in the band. Sheila refuses to accept the match and tries to push Jane towards David Fenner (Myers). Jimmy and Jane find David Fenner very boring, but he seems to be taken with Jane. As Jane's party approaches, can she get the right David to be her date.
The film is based on William Douglas-Home's 1955 play "The Reluctant Debutante." The play debuted in the United Kingdom with Anna Massey in the role of Jane. The show was a big success and premiered on Broadway in 1956, with Massey reprising her role. Wilfred Hyde-White played the role of Jimmy Broadbent in both productions. Due to the plays success, MGM purchased the film rights and hired Douglas-Home to write the screenplay.
The story is ok... but it doesn't hold-up well. The costumes in the film are gorgeous. The ladies get to wear beautiful gowns for all of the party sequences, and are continually statement pieces. Everything looks wonderful.
The teenage characters don't get much personality. Peter Myers' David Fenner is annoying and Diane Clare's Clarissa doesn't do much. John Saxon and Sandra Dee fare a little better, but still are not interesting characters. The adult characters are much more interesting. Rex Harrison is great as Jimmy. He drifts in and out of scenes with a bemused are exasperated look on his face. Kay Kendall, who was married to Harrison in real life, as Sheila walks the line between physical comedy and genuine affection. She steals every scene and keeps the character from veering too far into caricature. Angela Lansbury rounds out the adult cast as Mabel. Mabel is an irritating character, but you can't look away from Lansbury and her continual chatter.
It is a beautiful film, with game performances by Harrison, Kendall, and Lansbury.
The film was remade in 2003 as What a Girl Wants, starring Colin Firth and Amanda Bynes.
The Reluctant Debutante (1958) 95 minutes
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Rex Harrison as Jimmy Broadbent
Kay Kendall as Sheila Broadbent
John Saxon as David Parkson
Sandra Dee as Jane Broadbent
Angela Lansbury as Mabel Claremont
Peter Myers as David Fenner
Diane Clare as Clarissa Claremont
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