A stiff teacher meets a flirty showgirl and accidentally becomes the world's most unlikely heartthrob.
Academy Award-honoree Peter O'Toole stars in this musical classic about a prim English schoolmaster who learns to show his compassion through the help of an outgoing showgirl. O'Toole, who received his fourth Oscar-nomination for this performance, is joined by '60s pop star Petula Clark and fellow Oscar-nominee Michael Redgrave.
Acting
O'Toole's fourth Oscar nom for trembling restraint and late-breaking warmth.
Score
Petula Clark's voice melting the stiffness right out of him.
Production
Sweeping period sets that smell like chalk and tweed.
Director
Herbert Ross
Peter O'Toole
Arthur Chipping
Petula Clark
Katherine Bridges
Michael Redgrave
The Headmaster
George Baker
Lord Sutterwick
Siân Phillips
Ursula Mossbank
Michael Bryant
Max Staefel
Jack Hedley
William Baxter
Alison Leggatt
Headmaster's Wife
Jenny Runacre
Clinton Greyn
Bill Calbury
Barbara Couper
Mrs. Paunceforth
Michael Culver
Johnny Longbridge
Clive Morton
General Paunceforth
Ronnie Stevens
Algie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was O'Toole's fourth Oscar nomination in seven years; he famously never won, making this part of Hollywood's longest sympathetic losing streak.
Petula Clark was already a massive pop star ('Downtown') when cast; her character's music-hall background mirrors her own crossover from British variety to international fame.
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