The Reluctant Debutante

1958
Approved
1h 34m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

1.9K

YOUR RATING

A teenage American girl while visiting her father, is thrown into London society during the "Debutante Season".

Play trailer2:24

1 Video

98 Photos

Comedy Romance

While visiting her father, an American teenage girl is thrown into London society during its "Debutante Season."While visiting her father, an American teenage girl is thrown into London society during its "Debutante Season."While visiting her father, an American teenage girl is thrown into London society during its "Debutante Season."

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

1.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Videos1

Trailer 2:24

Official Trailer

Photos98

Top cast18

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Rex Harrison

Jimmy Broadbent

Kay Kendall

Sheila Broadbent

John Saxon

David Parkson

Sandra Dee

Jane Broadbent

Angela Lansbury

Mabel Claremont

Peter Myers

David Fenner

Diane Clare

Clarissa Claremont

René Aranda

Quaglino Diner
(uncredited)

Georges Billy

Quaglino Diner
(uncredited)

Jean-Paul Blonday

Quaglino Diner
(uncredited)

Charles Cullum

English Colonel
(uncredited)

Henri Guégan

Man at the Airport
(uncredited)

Carl Jablonski

Dancer
(uncredited)

Roger LaVern

Soldier on Guard
(uncredited)

Ambrosine Phillpotts

Miss Grey
(uncredited)

Sheila Raynor

Broadbents' Maid
(uncredited)

Michel Thomas

Quaglino Diner
(uncredited)

Pierre Vaudier

Quaglino Diner
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
For years, John Saxon said he had been bothered by something about Sandra Dee during filming that he just couldn't put his finger on. Decades later, he figured out what it was: Dee's mother had lied about her age to get her more adult roles. She was only 16 years old at the time of filming.

Goofs
The date for Jane's ball is shown onscreen as being scheduled for a Monday. However in a scene set on a day that is stated to be the day before Jane's ball, Jimmy gets dressed to go to work. Jimmy is a banker. The day before the ball would have been a Sunday, when his bank would have been closed. Another clue that the filmmaker forgot which day the ball was on is that Jimmy complains he hasn't slept since Sunday.

Quotes
Sheila Broadbent: No, darling, it's Jane. She's no good with men. She doesn't know any, and she doesn't want to know any.
Jimmy Broadbent: Well, she's a wise girl.
Sheila Broadbent: Oh, darling, it isn't funny. Now, you've got to talk to her.
Jimmy Broadbent: Talk to her? Why should I?
Sheila Broadbent: Well, because you're a man, and you can tell her what the young men want.
Jimmy Broadbent: [leering undertone] My dear!
Sheila Broadbent: Oh, don't be silly, darling, of course you can. I'm sure they don't change that much.
Jimmy Broadbent: No, you bet they don't.

Connections
Referenced in Madame's Place: Naked All-Star Bowling Competition (1982)

Soundtracks
Main Title
(uncredited)
from Designing Woman (1957)
Music by André Previn

User reviews37

Review

Featured review

7/10

Harrison and Kendall - A Great Comedy Team

This is a cute movie, made funny by Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall. Both actors are superb in comedy, especially in this comedy. It's hard to believe Ms. Kendall would be gone a year later. According to Mr. Harrison's autobiography, he knew his wife was dying, but she did not know. This movie is a wonderful valentine Rex Harrison gave to his wife, Kay Kendall.

A few years earlier, Kay Kendall made a very funny movie, "Simon and Laura" with Peter Finch. Movie is not available on video, so watch for it on television.