One Wild Oat

One Wild Oat

DVD cover, featuring (Left to right): Robertson Hare, Irene Handl and Stanley Holloway
Directed by Film: Charles Saunders, Stage: Jack Buchanan
Written by Vernon Sylvaine (Stage & Film), Lawrence Huntington (Film only)
Starring Stanley Holloway,
Robertson Hare,
Sam Costa
Cinematography Robert Navarro
Edited by Marjorie Saunders
Release dates
1951
Country United Kingdom
Language English

One Wild Oat is a 1951 British film starring Stanley Holloway, Robertson Hare and Sam Costa with a notable appearance by a pre-stardom Audrey Hepburn as an extra.

The film was adapted by Vernon Sylvaine from his 1948 play. The stage production debuted at the Garrick Theatre in London and was directed by Jack Buchanan. The stage version starred Robertson Hare, who reprised his role for the film, and Arthur Riscoe (who replaced Alfred Drayton following his death in 1949), the part being played by Stanley Holloway in the screen version. The stage cast where (in order of appearance): Julie Mortimer, Constance Lorne, Robertson Hare, George Bradford/Robert Moreton, June Sylvaine, Arthur Riscoe, John Stone, Ruth Maitland, Tom Squire, Charles Groves, Anne Stapledon, Horace Sequeira and Helene Burls.

Theatre Programme from the original West End production.

Plot summary

A barrister (Robertson Hare) attempts to discourage his daughter's infatuation for a philanderer by revealing his past. The plan backfires when the daughter's would-be father-in-law (Stanley Holloway) threatens to reveal the barrister's shady background.

Cast

Notes

In addition to the film featuring early appearances from future stars Audrey Hepburn and Roger Moore, the role of Cherrie (June Sylvaine) was played, in the stage and film version, by the wife of the author (Vernon Sylvaine).

During the play's West End run, the Garrick Theatre and two cast members were featured in a humorous cameo scene, reading The Stage newspaper (probably looking for new jobs due to London's anticipated destruction), in the 1950 film Seven Days to Noon (see still).

Scene from the 1950 film Seven Days to Noon, illustrating that the stage version of "One Wild Oat" predates the film. (see notes)

There was a television version of the play shown by the BBC in 1972 starring Brian Rix.

External links