The Lady Is Willing is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Gilbert Miller and starring Leslie Howard, Cedric Hardwicke and Binnie Barnes. It was written by Guy Bolton from a story by Louis Verneuil.
Contents
Plot
Private detective Albert Latour is employed by three men who aim to take revenge on the man responsible for a failed investment. Realising that the man's wife is wealthy, Latour kidnaps her in order to hold a ransom. The matter gets complicated when he finds himself falling in love with her.
Cast
Leslie Howard as Albert Latour
Cedric Hardwicke as Gustav Dupont
Binnie Barnes as Helene Dupont
Sir Nigel Playfair as Professor Menard
Nigel Bruce as Welton
Graham Browne as Monsieur Pignolet
Kendall Lee as Valerie
Claude Allister as Brevin
Arthur Howard as Dr. Germont
Reception
Picturegoer wrote: "Alas! Rarely have I seen so much talent wasted. The film bears not the slightest resemblance to that work which gave Columbia its reputation. It has the imprint of the amateur. I am afraid that Gilbert Miller, one of the really big men in the theatre, has much to learn as a director of pictures."
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Sketchy comedy, narrating outwitting of unscrupulous financier, with opportunity for Leslie Howard to present light-hearted characterisation as private detective. Nonsensical twists to frivolous story supply fair amusement content, supported by effective acting, but development is on slow side and sags at times. Moderate entertainment for star fans, but less likely to appeal to general popular audiences."
Mordaunt Hall wrote for The New York Times: it is a farce of the Parisian variety which possesses something of the effervescent quality René Clair gives to his pictures. Although the action is stilted here and there, obviously occasionally because of censorial deletions, the film has the compensating virtues of excellent acting, scintillating lines and original, but decidedly mad, escapades."