Warning to Wantons

Warning to Wantons is a 1949 British romantic comedy film directed by Donald Wilson and starring Harold Warrender, Anne Vernon and David Tomlinson.^[2]

Warning to Wantons
Directed by	Donald Wilson
Written by	James Laver Donald Wilson
Based on	novel A Warning to Wantons by Mary Mitchell
Starring	Harold Warrender Anne Vernon David Tomlinson
Cinematography	George Stretton
Edited by	Frederick Wilson Sidney Hayers
Music by	Hans May
Production company	Aquila Film
Distributed by	General Film Distributors (UK)
Release dates	4 January 1949 (1949-01-04) (London, England)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£125,000[1]

The screenplay, written by art historian James Laver and the director, was based upon Mary Mitchell's 1934 novel A Warning to Wantons, subtitled 'A fantastic romance - setting forth the not undeserved but awful fate which befell a minx'.^[3]

The film was one of the four of David Rawnsley's films that used his "independent frame" technique, a form of back projection.

Premise

A young woman escapes her strict convent school and enters high society, where she has the time of her life.

Cast

Credited

• Harold Warrender as Count Anton Kardak
• Anne Vernon as Renee de Vaillant
• David Tomlinson as Count Max Kardak
• Sonia Holm as Maria
• Hugh Cross as Pauli
• Marie Burke as Therese
• Judy Kelly as Mimi de Vaillant
• Ellen Pollock as Baroness de Jammes
• Andre Van Gyseghem as Oblensky
• Bruce Belfrage as Archimandrite
• Dennis Vance as Franklin Budd
• Jack Melford as Maurice Lugard
• Brian Oulton as Gilbertier

Uncredited

• Stanley Ratcliffe as Baroud
• Aletha Orr as Mrs. Budd
• Claud Frederic as Padara
• Ida Patlanski as Mrs. Padera
• Olwen Brookes as Mdme. Bertrand
• Kenneth Firth as Achille
• John Warren (actor) as Grobner
• Mela White as Madeleine
• Alexander Field as Woodman
• Betty Thomas as Hortense
• Frank Cochrane as Gaston
• Nancy Roberts as Mother Superior
• Grace Denbigh Russell as Nurse
• Margaret Damer as 1st Nun
• Harriet Petworth as 2nd Nun
• Michael Balzagette as Ticket Collector
• Patricia Davidson as 1st Maid
• David Keir as Concierge
• Herbert C. Walton as Quarry Peasant
• Peter Faber as Page
• Pauline Loring as 1st Female Relative
• Vincent Ball as Earl (Footman)

Production

It was the first of four films produced by Donald Wilson using prefabricated sets to keep costs down. Filming took six weeks.^[1]

Critical reception

TV Guide called the film a "A spirited romantic comedy," and rated it two out of four stars.^[4]