Who's Your Lady Friend? is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Carol Reed and starring Frances Day, Vic Oliver and Betty Stockfeld. It was written by Julius Horst and Anthony Kimminsbased on the 1913 play Der Herr ohne Wohnung by Bela Jenbach and Rudolf Österreicher, which had previously been made into the 1934 Austrian film The Gentleman Without a Residence. It was an independent production made at Ealing Studios, with sets were designed by the art director Erwin Scharf.
Contents
Preservation status
The British Film Institute National Archive holds a collection of ephemera but no film or video materials.
Premise
The secretary of a beauty specialist accidentally brings the wrong person back from the railway station, triggering a series of confusions.
Cast
Frances Day as Lulu
Vic Oliver as Doctor Mangold
Betty Stockfeld as Mrs. Mangold
Romney Brent as Fred
Margaret Lockwood as Mimi
Sarah Churchill as maid
Marcelle Rogez as Yvonne Fatigay
Muriel George as Mrs. Somers
Frederick Ranalow as cabby
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Vic Oliver acts very pleasantly as the beauty specialist; Frances Day, as the cabaret artist who starts all the trouble, appears to good effect in two or three well-produced cabaret turns (her French accent is very far from convincing, but few will be critical of this). Frederick Ranalow gives an enjoyable and tuneful performance as a singing cabman with an ancient cab and an even more ancient horse. The general level of the acting is very competent."
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Viennese comedy of marital infelicities and bedroom mix-ups handled with refreshing lightheartedness by sound cast. Honours go to Vic Oliver for polished light comedy performance, and to Frances Day for piquant portrait of amorous cabaret singer. Opulent settings and clever continuity help diaphanous story to register to full effect. Definitely bright and happy entertainment in familiar farce comedy vein."
Picture Show wrote: "Bright dialogue, deft direction, and some well-staged song and dance scenes combine to make attractive, frothy entertainment."
TV Guide called the film a "Cute farce and one of the many British programmers Reed directed before moving up to bigger features."