Young Woodley is a 1925 play by the British writer John Van Druten. It concerns a schoolboy at a top British public school who falls in love with his headmaster's wife and is eventually expelled. Because of its negative depiction of public school life and its controversial subject matter the play was originally banned in the United Kingdom and was only staged in 1928.[1] However, it was a major success in the United States and Van Druten moved there to work.[2] The ban in Britain was eventually lifted and it ran for over 400 performances in the West End making a star of its lead Frank Lawton.[3]
In 1930 the play was adapted into a film by British International Pictures. It was directed by Thomas Bentley with Lawton reprising his stage role. It also starred Madeleine Carroll, Frank Lawton and Sam Livesey. The film is notable for its stageiness and was not a success with audiences.[4]