There’s a Girl in My Soup (1970, Peter Sellers, Goldie Hawn)

Published

5 years ago

November 21, 2018

Romping sex comedy with PETER SELLERS as Robert Danvers, a celebrated 40-year-old TV food and wine critic whose bon vivant lifestyle finds ultimate expression in the vast expanse of his circular bed – the centrepiece of a hi-tech playboy love-pad.

He meets his match in kooky American teen, Marion (GOLDIE HAWN), a blasé waif who’s thoroughly unimpressed by his lechery. Still, she needs a place to crash after a bust-up with Neanderthal, drummer boyfriend Jimmy (NICKY HENSON) and, this being the promiscuous ’70s, she’s willing to pay the price. Her accommodating detachment thrills Danvers. He dines her in Cannes, gets her drunk at a wine tasting and, despite warnings from best friend Andrew (TONY BRITTON), falls hopelessly in love. But back in London, the tabloid rumour mill has whirred into a frenzy and Marion’s feelings prove confusing, especially when Jimmy turns up to take her back.

Described by Variety as, ‘A delightful surprise: a rather simple legit sex comedy transformed into breezy and extremely tasteful screen fun,’ There’s A Girl In My Soup was adapted by Terence Frisby from his own play that had already enjoyed a four year run in the West End.

Director Boulting (whose brother John produced the film) was aided, of course, by his cast. If you don’t include a bit part in The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band (1968), this was only Hawn’s second film. She’d shown her comic prowess in the zany US TV show, Laugh-In, and the previous year’s Cactus Flower (for which she won an Oscar as best supporting actress). But it’s still astonishing to see how comfortably she holds her own against Sellers. As Alexander Walker noted, watching them, ‘is to see a pas de deux of two comedians each of whom has divine timing, instinctive feel for a situation and a sharp eye open lest the partner win a trick.’

production details
UK | 95 minutes | 1970

Director: Roy Boulting
Writer: Terence Frisby (from his own stage play)

cast
Peter Sellers as Robert Danvers
Goldie Hawn as Marion
Tony Britton as Andrew Hunter
Nicky Henson as Jimmy
Diana Dors as John’s Wife
Judy Campbell as Lady Heather
Gabrielle Drake as Julia Halforde-Smythe
Nicola Pagett as Claire the Bride
Geraldine Sherman as Caroline
Thorley Walters as Manager of Carlton Hotel
Ruth Trouncer as Gilly Hunter
Françoise Pascal as Paola
Tom Marshall as Bryan
Raf De La Torre as Monsieur Le Guestier
Marianne Stone as Reporter
John Comer as John, the porter