"Max" (Leslie Howard) is the maitre'd at a swanky restaurant who takes a shine to visiting "Sylvia" (Elizabeth Allen). Protocol forbids his approaching her, but he gleans that she is heading off on holiday shortly and so he arranges to be in the same resort at the same time. A benefit of his job is that he has many friends in high places - including a King visiting incognito. He helps "Max" to make friends - of sorts - with the woman, before they return to their normal situations in life and the relationship all comes to quite a lively head... A couple of fun contributions from Morton Selten (her dad) and George Grossmith (the King) keep this amiable comedy moving along OK, and we perhaps encounter our first cinematographic reference to "social distancing", too! It's too long, but the dialogue is frequently pithy with the two sparring gently and amusingly at the end.
Max Tracey is the head waiter at a London hotel. He falls in love at first sight with Sylvia Robertson, an aristocratic woman, and poses as a prince to win her love. In this venture, he is aided by Mr. Westlake, a Ruritanian monarch who owes him a favour. When Sylvia discovers Max's deception, she is appalled, but the situation is resolved when her father tells her that he was once a hotel dishwasher.
Quick Stats
7.6
TMDB Rating
4
Votes
1h 33m
Runtime
—
Budget
—
Box Office
—
Return
Key Crew
DirectorAlexander Korda
WriterErnest Vajda
CinematographyPhilip Tannura
ComposerPercival Mackey
EditorHarold Young
Production DesignR. Holmes Paul
Produced by
Paramount British Pictures
Where to Watch
No streaming information available for Service for Ladies yet.
Critics & Reviews
1 featuredCast

Leslie Howard
Max Tracey

George Grossmith
The King (Mr. Westlake)

Benita Hume
Countess Ricardi

Elizabeth Allan
Sylvia Robertson

Morton Selten
Mr. Robertson
B
Ben Field
Breslmeyer

Diana Churchill
Minor Role (uncredited)
G
Gilbert Davis
Chef (uncredited)
A
Annie Esmond
Duchess (uncredited)
P
Pearl Hay
Minor Role (uncredited)

Martita Hunt
Aline - Countess Ricardi's Maid (uncredited)

Patrick Ludlow
Minor Role (uncredited)
E
Eileen Munro
Minor Role (uncredited)

Merle Oberon
Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)

Cyril Ritchard
Sir William Carter (uncredited)







