THE GENTLE SEX
UK, 1943, 88 minutes. Black and white.
Joan Gates, Joan Greenwood, Joyce Howard, Rosamund John, Lili Palmer, Barbara Waring, John Justin, John Laurie, Mary Jerrold. Narrated by Leslie Howard.
Directed by Leslie Howard.
The Gentle Sex is a morale-boosting film from the middle of World War Two. It was produced and directed by Leslie Howard who also speaks the narration. It is part of the war effort, a morale-booster, an effort for recruitment of women to join the services.
The narration takes a somewhat feminist tone, contrasting 1838 and the submission of women to 1938 onwards and their assertion. However, in the light of the subsequent half-century, some of the comments seem either quaint or patronising. Nevertheless, the film makes the point that the post-war England will be built on this experience of women.
The film is entertaining in its way, focusing on seven women and their joining the forces, their training, their work, the hazards of war. It highlights the relationship between the women and the possibility of finding husbands.
A very young Joan Greenwood is Betty. Joyce Howard has the more dramatic role in her relationship with John Justin, a pilot. Mary Jerrold as his mother has a speech about the contribution of women to World War One, ambulance drivers and their being wounded. A young Lili Palmer is a refugee. Barbara Waring is a rather catty and isolated woman who cannot relate to others. Amongst the male cast are John Justin and John Laurie as a forward Scotsman.
The film is to be seen in the perspective of World War Two and the uncertainty of how the war would end.
1. An interesting film of 1943, the experience of England in war, attitude towards the Nazis, the experience of the Blitz and bombings, the need for men in the services?
2. The focus on women, their place in the services, volunteering, training, the life and demands, the skills, mechanics, drivers, staffing anti-aircraft guns? David’s mother and her reminiscences of what the women contributed to World War One effort? The points about the future of England with this experience of women?
3. The narrator, a touch patronising, confiding in the audience, choosing the women to follow? His comments about them – a touch British macho?
4. The women at the station, the introduction to them, relationship with their mothers, spouses, isolated? Their hopes? The refugee? In the carriage, getting on well together?
5. The arrival, the training, the uniforms, the dormitories, their talking together, Betty’s homesickness, Joan and her keeping to herself? The details of life, the skills and training? The recreations, the concerts? The details of the way of life?
6. The work for the women, the driving, driving all night, travelling by train? The anti-aircraft guns and the training? Telephonists, messages?
7. The men in the film, the officers commanding, David and his being charmed by Anne, his talking with his mother, his mother and her memories of the war, the death of her husband? Having tea with the women? The Scotsman and his attraction towards Maggie?
8. The women themselves: Betty and her links to her mother, spoilt, homesick, wanting independence? Gwen, always late, enjoying life? Dot, wanting freedom, her husband, the goodtime girl, the drinks? Anne, her love for David? Maggie, the Scot, her mother and buying the drink at the station, with Alexander, her support of the others? Able to speak with Joan? Erna, the refugee, her speeches about suffering, her losses, the attack on Joan, her hatred, smiling at the downed pilot? Joan, isolated, snappy, ordering people, Maggie attacking her, the reconciliation?
9. The achievement of the women, the spirit of England? Hopes for a future?
