May We Borrow Your Husband? (film)

May We Borrow Your Husband? is a British television film produced in 1986. Adapted from the short story by Graham Greene, the film was written by Dirk Bogarde and directed by Bob Mahoney. It originally aired on ITV on 23 November 1986 and featured an ensemble cast including Bogarde, Charlotte Attenborough, Simon Shepherd, and David Yelland.^[1]

May We Borrow Your Husband?
Genre	Comedy-drama
Based on	"May We Borrow Your Husband?" by Graham Greene
Written by	Dirk Bogarde
Directed by	Bob Mahoney
Starring	Dirk Bogarde Charlotte Attenborough Simon Shepherd David Yelland
Composers	Joe Campbell Paul Hart
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	David Cunliffe
Producer	Keith Richardson
Cinematography	Peter Jackson
Editor	Tim Ritson
Running time	102 minutes
Production company	Yorkshire Television
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	23 November 1986 (1986-11-23)

Plot

"May We Borrow Your Husband?" is the title story of a collection Graham Greene termed "comedies of the sexual life." The narrative, a comedy of manners, scrutinizes the lifestyles of a particular class of English society. The protagonist, William Harris (played by Dirk Bogarde), serves as both a detached observer and reluctant participant in the unfolding drama.^[2]

Cast

• Dirk Bogarde as William Harris
• Charlotte Attenborough as Poopy Travis
• Simon Shepherd as Peter Travis
• David Yelland as Tony
• Francis Matthews as Stephen
• Patricia Davidson as English Woman
• Randal Herley as Mr. Ratcliffe
• Claude Coppola as Barman
• Jacques Diez as Maitre d'Hotel
• Eric Galliano as Porter

Production

The film was produced by Keith Richardson for Yorkshire Television, with editing by Tim Ritson and cinematography by Peter Jackson. The music was composed by Joe Campbell and Paul Hart, adding a subtle layer to the film’s comedic and dramatic tones.^[1]

Reception

Upon its release, May We Borrow Your Husband? received mixed reviews. Some critics praised the performances, particularly that of Dirk Bogarde, while others felt the adaptation lacked the wit and charm of Greene's original story.^[3]