The Reluctant Debutante (1958)

Synopsis: MGM, perhaps in the hope of recapturing the spirit of Father of the Bride (1950), hired that film's director, Vincente Minnelli, for this comedy adapted by William Douglas Home from his stage hit. However, the soft-centred dig at the London “season” was outmoded the moment it was made. A not very convincing change was the casting of two American teen idols, Sandra Dee, in the title role, and John Saxon, as her drum-playing sweetheart.

Thankfully, Dee's father and stepmother were played delightfully by (recently married) Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall. (Kendall died of leukaemia the following year aged 33.) The nicely designed film was shot in Paris, because Harrison couldn't enter England for tax reasons.

Cast: Rex Harrison, Kay Kendall
Runtime: 95 min