Jane Steps Out

Jane Steps Out
Directed byPaul L. Stein
Written by
Produced byWalter C. Mycroft
Starring
CinematographyClaude Friese-Greene
Production
company
Distributed byAssociated British Film Distributors
Release date
  • 16 May 1938 (1938-05-16)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£23,191

Jane Steps Out is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Diana Churchill, Jean Muir, Peter Murray-Hill and Athene Seyler. It was written by William Freshman and Dudley Leslie.

The film was remade as a BBC play in 1957, and as the Hindi film Love in Simla (1960) that made Sadhana Shivdasani into a star.

Preservation status

The British Film Institute National Archive holds a collection of ephemera and stills but no film or video materials.

Plot summary

A young woman is overshadowed by her more glamorous sister. With the help of her grandmother she transforms herself and is able to attract a man.

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The outstanding figure in an amusing film is 'Granny' – full of slang, vigour, and shrewdness – played by Athene Seyler. Iris Hoey is good as the fluttering and futile mother. Well produced film in light comedy vein with a rather weak ending."

Kine Weekly wrote: "Delightful domestic comedy, represented by a new and piquant interpretation of the evergreen Cinderella theme. An ugly duckling rehabilitation is the main fount of humour and sentiment and this, thanks to clever acting on the part of Diana Churchill, and sterling work by a first-rate supporting cast, sprinkles the screen with entertainment of irresistible appeal. It's a sheer joy from start to finish, and a box-office one at that."

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Romantic comedy on Cinderella lines, with 'plain Jane' heroine emerging from chrysalis to annex catty sister's boyfriend. Amusing dialogue and piquant situations keep fun at concert pitch throughout, while Diana Churchill cleverly handles leading role, and Fred Emney is immense as fatuous general. Nicely staged, bright popular entertainment of wholesome calibre."

References

  1. ↑ Chapman, Llewella. "'The highest salary ever paid to a human being': Creating a Database of Film Costs from the Bank of England". Journal of British cinema and television, 2022-10. Vol. 19, no. 4. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 470–494 at 480.
  2. 1 2 "Jane Steps Out". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "Sunday-Night Theatre: Brian Rix: Jane Steps Out". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Bhattacharya, Roshmila (28 August 2011). "Sadhana's fringe benefits from Audrey Hepburn". Hindustan Times.
  5. ↑ "Jane Steps Out". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Jane Steps Out". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 5 (49): 131. 1 January 1938. ProQuest 1305800312.
  7. ↑ "Jane Steps Out". Kine Weekly (1619): 20. 28 April 1938. ProQuest 2339660949.
  8. ↑ "Jane Steps Out". The Daily Film Renter (3435): 4. 7 April 1938. ProQuest 2826338579.