the reluctant debutante

the year: 1958

the genre: comedy


the cast: Sandra Dee (Jane Broadbent); Rex Harrison (Jimmy Broadbent); Kay Kendall (Sheila Broadbent); Angela Lansbury (Mabel Claremont); John Saxon (David Parkson)


the plot: When 17-year-old Jane Broadbent comes to London to live with her wealthy father Jimmy Broadbent, her stepmother Sheila feels compelled by her social aspirations to introduce her to society. Jane is bored by the debutante balls she attends and the young men she is introduced to, but becomes interested in a drummer named David Parkson, who has a reputation for leading young women astray. As it turns out, Parkson's reputation is undeserved, but Sheila is convinced otherwise, and she tries to keep him away from Jane.


count: the number of times Jane says, “But I love David, and David loves me!”


don’t miss: David Fenner’s traffic updates.


check out: the trailer here.


listen for: “Marble Arch, five-one, OH-one.”

the scene: David Fenner arrives to propose to Jane, who rejects him to Sheila's dismay. Sheila tearfully insists that she only wanted the best for Jane and pleads with her not to see David Parkson. Having read about David Parkson's inheritance and title in the paper, Jimmy suggests that they invite the Duke of Positano (David Parkson) to Jane's ball that evening.



extra bonus points: if you can name the 2003 movie loosely based on The Reluctant Debutante.