{ "id": "ep7ky92z3x", "slug": "the-wild-and-the-willing", "title": "The Wild and the Willing", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "label": "Drama and biographical films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s", "label": "Drama films 1960s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s.yr-1960-1965", "label": "Released 1960 to 1965", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s.yr-1960-1965" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s", "label": "Western Europe · 1946 to 2000: Drama films 1960s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s", "path": [ { "id": "geo.weu", "label": "Western Europe", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946", "label": "Western Europe · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "label": "Drama and biographical films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s", "label": "Drama films 1960s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Wild and the Willing, also released as Young and Willing, is Ralph Thomas's 1962 British university drama starring Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, Ian McShane, Samantha Eggar, and John Hurt, the last three in film debuts.", "snippet": "The Wild and the Willing, also released as Young and Willing, is Ralph Thomas's 1962 British university drama starring Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, Ian McShane, Samantha Eggar, and John Hurt, the last three in film debuts.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-1960s.yr-1960-1965", "markdown": "# The Wild and the Willing\n\n**The Wild and the Willing** is a 1962 British romantic drama directed by Ralph Thomas, produced by Betty E. Box, and written by Nicholas Phipps and [Mordecai Richler](https://www.edgepedia.org/mordecai-richler), about a group of students at a provincial English university whose affairs and pranks end in tragedy.[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/f2711a13-65ca-5e34-84a4-644d7eada4e7/the-wild-and-the-willing) It was released in the United States under the title **Young and Willing**.[2](https://www.reelstreets.com/films/wild-and-the-willing-the/) The film is remembered chiefly as the feature debut of [Ian McShane](https://www.edgepedia.org/ian-mcshane), Samantha Eggar, and [John Hurt](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-hurt).[3](https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-the-wild-and-the-willing-1962-online)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | UK theatrical release 16 October 1962; limited United States release 26 February 1964 as *Young and Willing*[4](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wild-and-the-willing/details/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wild_and_the_willing) |\n| Director and producer | Ralph Thomas; produced by Betty E. Box for Betty E. Box-Ralph Thomas Productions and The Rank Organisation[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/f2711a13-65ca-5e34-84a4-644d7eada4e7/the-wild-and-the-willing) • [6](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962) |\n| Writers | Nicholas Phipps and Mordecai Richler, adapting the play *The Tinker*[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/f2711a13-65ca-5e34-84a4-644d7eada4e7/the-wild-and-the-willing) |\n| Principal cast | Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, Ian McShane, Samantha Eggar, Katherine Woodville, John Hurt[6](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962) |\n| Debut performances | Feature film debuts for Ian McShane, Samantha Eggar, and John Hurt[3](https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-the-wild-and-the-willing-1962-online) • [7](https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-studios-the-rank-organisation-1962/) |\n| Recognition | One BAFTA Film Award nomination, Best British Actress for Virginia Maskell (1963)[6](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962) |\n| Running time | 112 minutes per the BFI; other databases list 110 minutes[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/f2711a13-65ca-5e34-84a4-644d7eada4e7/the-wild-and-the-willing) • [4](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wild-and-the-willing/details/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot and setting\n\nThe story follows Harry Brown (Ian McShane), a rough, charismatic, working-class scholarship student at the fictional Kilminster University who wins friends among the outsiders, including his quiet roommate Phil Corbett (John Hurt), who does not play rugger and cannot sink a whole pint of beer, and the African student Reggie (Johnny Sekka).[6](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962) • [8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) Harry is romantically involved with Josie ([Samantha Eggar](https://www.edgepedia.org/samantha-eggar)), but drifts into an affair with Virginia (Virginia Maskell), the bored wife of his professor, George Chown (Paul Rogers), an affair he takes more seriously than she does.[9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/) • [10](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19631129.2.31.1.1)\n\nThe BFI synopsis adds that Harry's academic career is derailed by the affair and further threatened once he begins planning a flamboyant stunt to disrupt campus complacency.[3](https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-the-wild-and-the-willing-1962-online) The storyline ends in tragedy: a contemporary [New Zealand Listener](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-zealand-listener) review describes how the affair indirectly leads to a tragedy that ends Harry's university career but takes him a step toward maturity, and the Reelstreets synopsis records that Harry forfeits his scholarship after a stunt in which a fellow student dies.[10](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19631129.2.31.1.1) • [2](https://www.reelstreets.com/films/wild-and-the-willing-the/) The film closes with Reggie singing a ballad about Harry and Josie.[11](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/the-wild-and-thewilling-1962/)\n\n## Production\n\nThe screenplay adapts the play *The Tinker*. Sources differ on its authorship: Brian Hannan of The Magnificent 60s credits Laurence Doble and Robert Sloman, while the critic Derek Winnert credits Laurence Dobie alone.[9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/) • [8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) [Letterboxd](https://www.edgepedia.org/letterboxd) lists both Doble and Sloman among the film's writers alongside Phipps and Richler.[4](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wild-and-the-willing/details/)\n\nFilming took place on location in Lincoln, with Lincoln Castle standing in for the university; location photography also extended to [Berkshire](https://www.edgepedia.org/berkshire).[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) • [2](https://www.reelstreets.com/films/wild-and-the-willing-the/) The film was shot in black and white.[7](https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-studios-the-rank-organisation-1962/) Hurt was the first actor cast, and the producers used him to audition the other young players.[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/)\n\n## Cast and careers\n\nThe film functioned as a showcase for young talent. Ian McShane, then about 20, made his debut as Harry; Samantha Eggar made hers as Josie; and John Hurt, then 22, made his as Phil Corbett.[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) Eggar was the biggest immediate beneficiary, moving on to female leads in *[The Collector](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-collector-1965-film)* (1965) and *Walk, Don't Run* (1966).[9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/) McShane built a durable career in television and film, including *Lovejoy* (1986 to 1994), and achieved wider fame decades later through *Deadwood* (2004 to 2006) and the [John Wick](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wick) series.[9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/) Hurt's debut as an outsider and underdog prefigured the roles he would play throughout his career, which later included *The Naked Civil Servant* (1975), *[Midnight Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/midnight-express-film)* (1978), and *Alien* (1979).[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) • [9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/)\n\nThe supporting cast included [Jeremy Brett](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-brett) as Andrew Gilby, later known as television's [Sherlock Holmes](https://www.edgepedia.org/sherlock-holmes); Johnny Briggs, later [Coronation Street](https://www.edgepedia.org/coronation-street)'s Mike Baldwin, as Dai; Johnny Sekka as Reggie; and Katherine Woodville, David Sumner, John Standing, and Charles Kay.[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) • [6](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962) Virginia Maskell, the most established of the young leads, died young; her last picture was *Interlude* (1968).[9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/)\n\n## Reception and place in British cinema\n\nProducer Betty E. Box recalled that the film \"didn't break records or win awards but it did reasonably good business and put the youngsters on the first rung of the ladder to stardom.\"[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) Its only recorded award recognition is Virginia Maskell's BAFTA nomination for Best British Actress.[6](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962)\n\nCritics have generally placed the film alongside, rather than within, the British New Wave. A 1963 New Zealand Listener review called it part of the \"redbrick literary tradition\" of the previous decade, with class consciousness echoing *Lucky Jim* and *Room at the Top*, while crediting the young cast, particularly McShane, Eggar, and Hurt, with bringing life and conviction to the student roles.[10](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19631129.2.31.1.1) The FilmInk retrospective saw it as Box and Thomas's attempt to join the British New Wave, a \"grim, serious drama\" that did not fully succeed, though with first-rate casting.[7](https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-studios-the-rank-organisation-1962/) A Letterboxd reviewer judged that it \"lacks the depth or style to rank among the British New Wave,\" while praising Maskell's performance and Hurt's debut.[12](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wild-and-the-willing/reviews/) The BFI Player describes it as \"a somewhat quieter British equivalent of an American 'frat-house' comedy\" and a reminder that Thomas's filmography extended beyond the *Doctor* comedy series for which he was best known.[3](https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-the-wild-and-the-willing-1962-online)\n\nThe film's once-controversial treatment of student sexuality has dated. Winnert notes that the sexual shenanigans that made it an eye-opener on release now look mundane, and Hannan writes that by today's standards it is very tame.[8](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/) • [9](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/) Academic work on 1960s British youth cinema lists it among the era's social problem films dealing with young people and moral anxiety.[13](https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/153536524.pdf) The film remains available to rent on BFI Player.[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/f2711a13-65ca-5e34-84a4-644d7eada4e7/the-wild-and-the-willing)\n\n## References\n\n1. [The Wild and the Willing (1962), BFI](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/f2711a13-65ca-5e34-84a4-644d7eada4e7/the-wild-and-the-willing)\n2. [Wild and the Willing, The, Reelstreets](https://www.reelstreets.com/films/wild-and-the-willing-the/)\n3. [Watch The Wild and the Willing online, BFI Player](https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-the-wild-and-the-willing-1962-online)\n4. [The Wild and the Willing (1962), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wild-and-the-willing/details/)\n5. [The Wild and the Willing, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wild_and_the_willing)\n6. [The Wild and the Willing, Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/movies/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962)\n7. [Forgotten British Film Studios: The Rank Organisation, 1962, FilmInk](https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-studios-the-rank-organisation-1962/)\n8. [The Wild and the Willing [Young and Willing] (1962), Classic Movie Review 4960, Derek Winnert](https://www.derekwinnert.com/the-wild-and-the-willing-young-and-willing-1962-virginia-maskell-paul-rogers-ian-mcshane-samantha-eggar-john-hurt-classic-movie-review-4960/)\n9. [The Wild and the Willing (1962), The Magnificent 60s, Brian Hannan](https://themagnificent60s.com/2025/09/08/the-wild-and-the-willing-1962/)\n10. [The Wild and the Willing, New Zealand Listener, 29 November 1963, Papers Past](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19631129.2.31.1.1)\n11. [The Wild and the Willing (1962) Full Movie Summary, Plot Explained](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/the-wild-and-thewilling-1962/)\n12. [Reviews of The Wild and the Willing (1962), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wild-and-the-willing/reviews/)\n13. [The figure of the child in British cinema, PhD thesis, Lancaster eprints](https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/153536524.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 1960s › Released 1960 to 1965*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The Wild and the Willing\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Wild and the Willing](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Wild and the Willing\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild-and-the-willing. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Wild and the Willing, also released as Young and Willing, is Ralph Thomas's 1962 British university drama starring Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, Ian McShane, Samantha Eggar, and John Hurt, the last three in film debuts." }