A Touch of Love (1969 film)
| A Touch of Love | |
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DVD cover
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| Directed by | Waris Hussein |
| Produced by | Max Rosenberg Edgar J. Scherick Milton Subotsky |
| Written by | Margaret Drabble |
| Starring | Sandy Dennis |
| Music by | Michael Dress |
| Cinematography | Peter Suschitzky |
| Edited by | Bill Blunden |
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Release dates
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Running time
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107 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
A Touch of Love is a 1969 British drama film directed by Waris Hussein, adapted by Margaret Drabble from her novel The Millstone (1965). It was entered into the 19th Berlin International Film Festival.[1]
Plot
Rosamund Stacey (Sandy Dennis), a young 'bookish' girl in London society, spends her days studying for a doctorate in the British Museum and her nights avoiding the sexual attention of the men in her life. But one day, all that changes. Through a friend, she is introduced to rising TV newsreader/announcer George Matthews (Ian McKellen) and after a further chance meeting and a tumble on the sofa, she finds herself pregnant from her first sexual encounter. A failed attempt at self-abortion just re-inforces Rosamund's resolve to have the child - leaving her on a solitary and at times dismal path through pregnancy and into motherhood, aided only by close friend Lydia (Eleanor Bron). Will she get through it? Will her child? And will she let Matthews know that he is actually the father?
Cast
- Sandy Dennis as Rosamund Stacey
- Ian McKellen as George Matthews
- Eleanor Bron as Lydia Reynolds
- John Standing as Roger Henderson
- Michael Coles as Joe Hurt
- Rachel Kempson as Sister Henry
- Peggy Thorpe-Bates as Mrs. Stacey
- Kenneth Benda as Mr. Stacey
- Sarah Whalley as Octavia
- Shelagh Fraser as Miss Gurnsey
- Deborah Stanford as Beatrice
- Margaret Tyzack as Sister Bennett
- Roger Hammond as Mike
- Maurice Denham as Doctor Prothero
Production
Max Rosenberg of Amicus Productions had made a reputation with horror films but wanted to branch into other areas. He optioned the novel for ₤1,000.[2]
Reception
Milton Subotsky says the film was not a box office success but since the filmmakers sold it to the distributors for more than its cost, they made a profit on it. Rosenberg later said it was in his opinion the best movie that Amicus produced.[2]
