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Fenella has minor, but rather spectacular, roles in these films. They are all very good British films and feature some of the great actors and best directors of the time.

 

In The Doghouse (1961)

Leslie Phillips, Peggy Cummins, Hattie Jacques, James Booth, Patsy Rowlands and Fenella Fielding.

 

The Radio Times wrote that this film is:  "… a fine comic vehicle for Leslie Phillips, who has to resort to his trademark charm to atone for his misadventures as he begins life as a qualified vet.”

 

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "… one role that deserves expansion is that given to Fenella Fielding who appears only briefly, exchanging glad-eyes with a lion and out-sexing the blonde vamps who undulate through the poodles' beauty parlour run by a villainous vet [James Booth].”

 

Sapphire (1959)

Nigel Patrick, Yvonne Mitchell, Michael Craig, Paul Massie and Fenella Fielding.

 

A British crime drama film directed by Basil Dearden. A progressive film for its time, it focuses on racism in London toward immigrants from the West Indies, and explores the "underlying insecurities and fears of ordinary people" about those of another race.

 

In 2017, Fenella said: “I only had one scene, where I played a shop assistant in a fancy knicker shop. I saw it recently; I had a smashing frock. It was one of my own. I was lucky I didn’t have to rely on what they could dig up. It was my first film, so of course it was exciting. It was a known director, Basil Dearden. An actor who was waiting to do his scene said to Basil, ‘She is going to be a star any minute now.’ Basil asked, ‘What do you mean?’ ‘She’s in this thing called Valmouth. It’s going to go to the West End and she’s going to be a big star.’ ‘Oh really, what is she doing here then?’

 

No Love for Johnnie (1961)

Peter Finch, Stanley Holloway, Mary Peach, Donald Pleasence, Billie Whitelaw and Fenella Fielding.

 

A 1961 British drama film in CinemaScope directed by Ralph Thomas. It’s based on the 1959 novel No Love for Johnnie by the Labour Member of Parliament Wilfred Fienburgh. It depicts the disillusionment and cynicism of a rebellious leftist Labour MP, who seeks escape in a relationship with a younger woman. The BFI have said this is Thomas’ best film.

 

Fenella plays the lively and good natured host of a party, searching for the perfect kiss. She finds it with Peter Finch. Meanwhile, Oliver Reed can only look on.

Fenella Films on DVD (3)

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