# Yes, Madam? > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Yes%2C_Madam%3F > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Yes%2C_Madam%3F.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes%2C_Madam%3F > Source revision: 1339476104 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1938 film For other uses, see [Yes, Madam (disambiguation)](/source/Yes%2C_Madam_(disambiguation)). Yes, Madam? Directed by Norman Lee Written by K.R.G. Browne (play) William Freshman Clifford Grey Bert Lee Produced by Walter C. Mycroft Starring Bobby Howes Diana Churchill Wylie Watson Cinematography Walter J. Harvey Edited by Walter Stokvis Music by Harry Acres Production company Associated British Picture Corporation Distributed by Associated British Film Distributors Release date November 1938 (1938-11) Running time 77 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English Budget £39,784[1] ***Yes, Madam?*** is a 1938 British [musical](/source/Musical_film) [comedy film](/source/Comedy_film) directed by [Norman Lee](/source/Norman_Lee_(director)) and starring [Bobby Howes](/source/Bobby_Howes), [Diana Churchill](/source/Diana_Churchill_(actress)) and [Wylie Watson](/source/Wylie_Watson).[2] ## Background The film was adapted from a play by K. R. G. Browne, itself based on a novel by the same author.[3] The film was shot at [Elstree Studios](/source/Elstree_Studios_(Shenley_Road)),[4] with sets designed by the [art director](/source/Art_director) [Cedric Dawe](/source/Cedric_Dawe). ## Plot Two cousins, Billy Quinton and Sally Gaunt, have to spend a month in [service](/source/Domestic_worker) to qualify for an [inheritance](/source/Inheritance) from an eccentric uncle. They find themselves in the same household, as valet/chauffeur and as maid, where they are tracked down by their arch-enemy Tony Tolliver, who will get the money should either of the cousins fail in their task by getting the sack. Tony therefore tries various schemes to get them sacked – succeeding, but still failing to get the legacy.[3] ## Cast - [Bobby Howes](/source/Bobby_Howes) as Bill Quinton - [Diana Churchill](/source/Diana_Churchill_(actress)) as Sally Gault - [Wylie Watson](/source/Wylie_Watson) as Albert Peabody, a retired button manufacturer - [Bertha Belmore](/source/Bertha_Belmore) as Emily Peabody, his unmarried sister - [Vera Pearce](/source/Vera_Pearce) as Pansy Beresford, an actress - [Billy Milton](/source/Billy_Milton) as Tony Tolliver - [Fred Emney](/source/Fred_Emney) as Sir Charles Drake-Drake - [Cameron Hall](/source/Cameron_Hall_(actor)) as Catlett, former burglar, now manservant to Tolliver - [Geoffrey Sumner](/source/Geoffrey_Sumner) as Scoffin - [Arthur Hambling](/source/Arthur_Hambling) as a police constable ## Music and dance sequences Set pieces taken from the stage production included a scene with a 'sloshed Emney',[5] Czecho-Slovakian Love - "Here beneath the white lights gleaming above" (Pansy and Bill) and 'Yes, Madam' - "I'm in love, I confess" (Bill and Sally).[6] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-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. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["BFI | Film & TV Database | YES, MADAM? (1938)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090116062718/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/58794). Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from [the original](http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/58794) on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2012. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Kineweekly_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Kineweekly_3-1) Excerpt from *[Kine Weekly](/source/Kine_Weekly)*, 10 November 1938, quoted in "The Museum of London and The National Film Archive present Made in London" programme notes, 20th season, September to December 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Wood p. 99 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Excerpt from Film-making in 1930s Britain by Rachael Low, quoted in 'The Museum of London and The National Film Archive present Made in London' programme notes, 20th season, September to December 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Script of 'Yes, Madam' accompanying Network on Air DVD release 'British Musicals of the 1930s: Volume 4' 7954378 (2015). ## Bibliography - Wood, Linda. *British Films, 1927-1939*. British Film Institute, 1986. ## External links - [*Yes, Madam?*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032148/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) v t e Films directed by Norman Lee The Streets of London (1929) The Lure of the Atlantic (1929) The Strangler (1932) Josser Joins the Navy (1932) Strip! Strip! Hooray!!! (1932) Josser on the River (1932) Josser in the Army (1932) Money Talks (1932) Lost Money (1933) The Pride of the Force (1933) A Political Party (1934) The Outcast (1934) Doctor's Orders (1934) Spring in the Air (1934) Royal Cavalcade (1935) Mother, Don't Rush Me (1936) Happy Days Are Here Again (1936) No Escape (1936) Kathleen Mavourneen (1937) Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1937) Knights for a Day (1937) French Leave (1937) Saturday Night Revue (1937) Mr. Reeder in Room 13 (1938) Almost a Honeymoon (1938) Save a Little Sunshine (1938) Luck of the Navy (1938) Murder in Soho (1939) Wanted by Scotland Yard (1939) Yes, Madam? (1939) The Door with Seven Locks (1940) The Farmer's Wife (1941) The Monkey's Paw (1948) The Case of Charles Peace (1949) The Girl Who Couldn't Quite (1950) This article about a 1930s musical comedy film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:1930s-musical-comedy-film-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3A1930s-musical-comedy-film-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1930s-musical-comedy-film-stub) This article related to a British comedy film of the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3A1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Yes, Madam?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes%2C_Madam%3F) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes%2C_Madam%3F?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.