The Wild Affair

Nancy Kwan is to be married in a few days, whereupon she will become a housewife. She's a good girl in the early phases of the Swinging Sixties, and she wonders what she is missing.

It's a pleasant and, in the end, rather normative effort, mostly distinguished for its efforts to make a real star of Miss Kwan (who is still alive and working), with lots of cinematic leering efforts of the men to get in a one-night stand with the lovely actress while the getting is good. In the end it is pleasant, if not particularly distinguished.

Some of the casting is rather interesting, with Bessie Love playing Miss Kwan's mother, Bud Flanagan as the building's door man, and Terry-Thomas as her boss -- sans mustache and gap-toothed grin.

I found this film really very charming, with values that have all but disappeared from popular entertainment, but still hold quite true. In that sense, the script was unusual and rare. It didn't shy away from sexuality, but rather praised the substance of love. The actors were very good, particularly Thomas and the whole variety of excellent British supporting players such as Spinetti. The very interesting part of this film is the perfect casting of Nancy Kwan at the time. I don't know any other actress I could have seen perfectly in this role, with the hint of seriousness that is in her face.

A very enjoyable and fast paced farce. Nancy Kwan is perfect as the impish bride to be on her last day at the company that produces "it" perfume. (Wasn't Twiggy the original "it" girl?) It has a splendid cast of British character actors, headed by Terry Thomas and including Victor Spinetti, who must have gone straight from this (production began in late 1963) to his role in "Hard Day's Night." There are certain similarities in the look of these films, from the titles to of course the exteriors and certain motifs. Some good dialog and physical comedy. Glorious black and white cinematography, at times gritty and at others glamorous. Overall very enjoyable. The only uneasy thing in the movie, which is not particular to this film and common to similar storylines, is the guys continuously hitting on Kwan are sad reminders of what the workplace once was like and all too sadly as today's news shows, still are far too often. But as other reviews mention, these scenes always resolve innocuously or ridiculously for the guys doing the hitting. Well worth the time watching.

I am ashamed to admit that the work of the lovely Nancy Kwan had previously passed me by, but after seeing this delightful film I will check out her other films

This had all the necessary ingredients of a good easy watching distraction. Nancy was delightful in the main part, naturally charming, easy on the eye and with great expression and timing She was ably supported by a number of British stalwarts; including a slightly subdued Terry Thomas, Jimmy Logan and even a cameo from Frank Thornton But it's Betty Marsden who steals the show with a beautiful and touching performance.

Great scenes of a swinging sixties London and I just about old enough to remember this kind of Christmas party! ( which we're always a mixture of fun and sadness, as perfectly illustrated in this film )

Thoroughly recommended viewing.

The only thing of note in this very unfunny outdated comedy is that this is the last film appearance of Bud Flanagan.