The Weaker Sex (1948 film)

The Weaker Sex is a 1948 British drama film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ursula Jeans, Cecil Parker and Joan Hopkins.

It was one of the most popular films at the British box office in 1948. The film's subject was what The New York Times described as the "heroics of that valiant legion of women who stood, but did not wait, through the long war years and the now dreary post war years."

Plot
Set near Portsmouth, one of the main bases for the D-Day invasion fleet, the film portrays life on the British home front during World War II.

During the run up to D-Day (1944), widowed Martha Dacre (Ursula Jeans) tries to keep house and home together for her two daughters and two servicemen billeted on her, including Geoffrey, a naval officer who was a friend of her deceased husband. Although her two daughters serve as Wrens, and her son is away in the Navy, she has chosen to stay at home as a housewife, but she also participates in fire-watching and works in a canteen for the armed forces. When she learns that her son's ship was damaged during the landings, she experiences regrets about not taking a more active role in the war.

Using occasional footage of actual events and with frequent reference to contemporary newspaper and wireless reports, the story moves forward from D-Day to VE-Day, the 1945 general election and on to 1948 when the film was made. Martha eventually re-marries to Geoffrey who has by now become a father-figure to her son and daughters.

Cast

 * Ursula Jeans as Martha Dacre
 * Cecil Parker as Geoffrey Radcliffe
 * Joan Hopkins as Helen
 * Derek Bond as Nigel
 * Lana Morris as Lolly
 * John Stone as Roddy
 * Digby Wolfe as Benjie
 * Thora Hird as Mrs. Gaye
 * Bill Owen as Soldier
 * Marian Spencer as Harriet Lessing
 * Kynaston Reeves as Captain Dishart
 * Eleanor Summerfield as Clippie
 * Dorothy Bramhall as Mrs. Maling
 * Gladys Henson as Woman in Fish Queue
 * Merle Tottenham as Woman in Fish Queue
 * Vi Kaley as Old Woman On Sea Front
 * Marjorie Gresley as Shop Supervisor

Production
The film was shot at Denham Studios with location shooting taking place in Margate, Portchester Castle and the village of Denham in Buckinghamshire. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky. It was adapted by Esther McCracken from her own 1944 play No Medals, with additional material added to continue the story until the present day in 1948.

Box Office
The film was popular at the British box office. According to Kinematograph Weekly the 'biggest winner' at the box office in 1948 Britain was The Best Years of Our Lives with Spring in Park Lane being the best British film and runners-up being It Always Rains on Sunday, My Brother Jonathan, Road to Rio, Miranda, An Ideal Husband, Naked City, The Red Shoes, Green Dolphin Street, Forever Amber, Life with Father, The Weaker Sex, Oliver Twist, The Fallen Idol and The Winslow Boy.

The film earned producer's receipts of £92,700 in the UK and £13,100 overseas.

Critical reception
Critical reception was lukewarm, but the film had some defenders. A critic for The News of the World wrote, "I see that according to my fellow critics The Weaker Sex ... is riddled with faults. Therefore I ask your indulgence for being incapable of detailing these grave weaknesses. I must have missed them because I was enjoying myself so much".

The New York Times wrote, "a thoroughly professional cast and an adult script make the drama genuine and trenchant. Ursula Jeans is excellent as the beleaguered mother who minimizes her work and sacrifices by remarking "one is given no choice — just a little extra strength from somewhere." Cecil Parker is equally adept in his restrained portrayal of the commander she eventually marries. The wonderful Thora Hird contributes a superbly droll bit as a Yorkshire servant and Joan Hopkins, Lana Morris, Digby Wolfe, Derek Bond and John Stone add solid characterizations as the children and sons-in-law" ; and Sky Movies wrote, "the best reviews of the period were saved for Thora Hird as Mrs Gage [sic], the 'daily' with a dry sense of humour", and concluded, "good, solid drama told convincingly – if a trifle over-sentimental today."