The Cure for Love ** (1949, Robert Donat, Renée Asherson, Dora Bryan, Marjorie Rhodes, Charles Victor, Thora Hird, Gladys Henson) – Classic Movie Review 13,673

Walter Greenwood’s hit Lancashire comedy play The Cure for Love comes to the screen as a Robert Donat one-man band – co-writer, director, producer, star.

Director Robert Donat’s 1949 British black and white comedy film The Cure for Love is based on Walter Greenwood’s 1945 hit play, and stars Robert Donat, Renée Asherson, Dora Bryan, Marjorie Rhodes, Charles Victor, Thora Hird, and Gladys Henson.

Walter Greenwood’s Lancashire comedy play The Cure for Love comes to the screen as a Robert Donat one-man band – co-writer, director, producer, star. But he isn’t really too comfortable in any of his capacities, not even playing Sergeant Jack Hardacre, a handsome British soldier back on leave from war service in the Middle East, who is in demand with the ladies. Milly Southern (Renée Asherson) and Jenny Jenkins (Dora Bryan) fight over him.

Jack is engaged to the contemptible Jenny Jenkins, but falls in love with the London factory girl Milly Southern, the lodger of his mother Mrs Sarah Hardacre (Marjorie Rhodes). While Jack tries to wriggle out of his engagement, his mother and local publican Henry Lancaster (Charles Victor) get engaged.

So there’s a very good cast then, and it’s the formidable Dora Bryan and Gladys Henson as her mum, Mrs Jenkins, who are the main cures for the film’s blues, though Renée Asherson and Marjorie Rhodes are excellently entertaining too.

The screenplay is written by Robert Donat, Alexander Shaw and Albert Fennell.

The London premiere was on 29 December 1949, and it was released in the UK on 6 February 1950.

Donat starred in the stage version in 1945, and the film is his sole feature as director.

The film was shot at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England.

Cast: Robert Donat, Renée Asherson, Dora Bryan, Marjorie Rhodes, Charles Victor, Thora Hird, Gladys Henson, John Stratton, Jack Howarth, Francis Wignall, Norman Partridge, Edna Morris, Michael Dear, Tonie MacMillan, Lilian Stanley, Margot Bryant, Lucille Gray, Sam Kydd, Jack Rodney, Reginald Green, Johnny Catcher, Jan Conrad, Raymond Rollett.

Francis Wignall was chosen out of 3,000 boys to play the lead role of Claude.

The Cure for Love is directed by Robert Donat, runs 98 minutes, is made by Island Productions and London Film Productions, is released by British Lion Films (UK), is written by Robert Donat, Alexander Shaw and Albert Fennell, is shot in black and white by Jack E Cox, is produced by Robert Donat, is scored by William Alwyn, and designed by Wilfred Shingleton.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,673

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