A Touch of Love (1969 film)

A Touch of Love
A Touch of Love
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Waris Hussein
Screenplay by	Margaret Drabble
Based on	The Millstone; 1965 novel; by Margaret Drabble
Produced by	Max Rosenberg; Milton Subotsky;
Starring	Sandy Dennis; Ian McKellen; Michael Coles; John Standing; Eleanor Bron;
Cinematography	Peter Suschitzky
Edited by	Bill Blunden
Music by	Michael Dress
Production; companies	Amicus Productions; Palomar Pictures International;
Distributed by	British Lion Films
Release dates	June 1969 (Berlin); September 1969 (United Kingdom);
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£304,512

A Touch of Love (also known as Thank You All Very Much and The Millstone) is a 1969 British drama film directed by Waris Hussein and adapted by Margaret Drabble from her novel The Millstone (1965).^[2]^[3] The film stars Sandy Dennis, Ian McKellen, Michael Coles, John Standing and Eleanor Bron.

Plot

Rosamund Stacey, 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. One day, all that changes. Through a friend, she is introduced to rising TV newsreader/announcer George Matthews. After a further chance meeting and a tumble on the sofa, she finds herself pregnant from her first sexual encounter. After a failed attempt at self-induced abortion, Rosamund resolves to have the child, leaving her on a solitary and at times discouraging path through pregnancy as a single mother.

Previously averse to roommates, she lets her friend Lydia move in with her. She gives birth to her child and works on her dissertation. Her child is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect which requires surgery. The surgeon is a friend of her father and when they both realize this, she finally breaks down in front of him. The doctor assures her everything will be alright, and her baby does survive the surgery. However, the head nurse will not allow her to see the baby while she is in recovery.

After several attempts to see her child, Rosamund finally screams until the surgeon arrives and assures her she can see her child. From then on, she does not leave the hospital, finishing her thesis by her baby's side. She completes her doctorate and is offered a job in Edinburgh.

She runs into George at the pharmacist and invites him back to her flat to meet her child. He is happy to see her and invites her to travel with him. She asks if she can bring her baby, and he demurs. They part without her telling him that he is the child's father, and they both agree that people cannot change their nature.

Cast

Sandy Dennis as Rosamund
Ian McKellen as George
Michael Coles as Joe
John Standing as Roger
Peggy Thorpe-Bates as Mrs. Stacey
Kenneth Benda as Mr. Stacey
Deborah Stanford as Beatrice
Roger Hammond as Mike
Eleanor Bron as Lydia
Margaret Tyzack as Sister Bennett
Maurice Denham as Doctor Prothero
Rachel Kempson as Sister Harvey

Release

The film was entered into the 19th Berlin International Film Festival.^[4]

Box office

Milton Subotsky said 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. Rosenberg later said it was in his opinion the best film that Amicus produced.^[5]

References

^ Chapman, James (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945–1985. Edinburgh University Press. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-3995-0076-0.
^ "A Touch of Love". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
^ "A Touch of Love (1969)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019.
^ "19th Berlin International Film Festival". FilmAffinity. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
^ Bryce, Allan, ed. (2000). Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood. Stray Cat Publishing. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-0-9533-2613-6.