Young Woodley is a 1925 play by the British writer John Van Druten. It concerns a schoolboy at a top British public school who falls in love with his headmaster's wife and is eventually expelled. Because of its negative depiction of public school life and its controversial subject matter the play was originally banned in the United Kingdom and was only staged in 1928. However, it was a major success in the United States and Van Druten moved there to work. The ban in Britain was eventually lifted and it ran for over 400 performances in the West End

West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...

 making a star of its lead Frank Lawton

Frank Lawton

Frank Lawton was an English actor, born Frank Lawton Mokeley. He was married to Evelyn Laye, with whom he acted several times including in My Husband and I .His parents were stage players Daisy May Collier and Frank Mokeley...

.

Adaptation

In 1930 the play was adapted into a film by British International Pictures. It was directed by Thomas Bentley

Thomas Bentley

Thomas Bentley was a British film director. He directed 68 films between 1912 and 1941. He directed three films in the early DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process, The Man in the Street , The Antidote , and Acci-Dental Treatment .Bentley was born in London and originally trained as an engineer,...

 with Lawton reprising his stage role. It also starred Madeleine Carroll

Madeleine Carroll

Edith Madeleine Carroll was an English actress, popular in the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life:Carroll was born at 32 Herbert Street in West Bromwich, England. She graduated from the University of Birmingham, England with a B.A. degree...

, Frank Lawton

Frank Lawton

Frank Lawton was an English actor, born Frank Lawton Mokeley. He was married to Evelyn Laye, with whom he acted several times including in My Husband and I .His parents were stage players Daisy May Collier and Frank Mokeley...

 and Sam Livesey

Sam Livesey

Sam Livesey was a British film actor. He was the father of the actor Roger Livesey.-Selected filmography:* The Forger * Blackmail silent version only* Raise the Roof * Up for the Cup...

. The film is notable for its stageiness and was not a success with audiences.