Movies: “The Knack” Wins Palme D’Or at Cannes

May 28, 1965 - The British film “The Knack,” starring Ray Brooks (pictured tonight with some of his co-stars) was awarded the grand prix (Le Palme D’Or) this evening as the best motion picture in the competitive program of the 1965 Cannes Festival.

Samantha Eggar was voted the best actress for her performance in “The Collector” and Terence Stamp the best actor for his performance in the same film.

The Japanese entry, “Kwaidan,” won the special jury prize, the Romanian film, “Forest of the Hanged,” a prize for the best direction, and a prize for the best scenario was split between “The Hill” and “The 317th Section.”

“The Knack,” an adaptation from a stage play by Ann Jellicoe, is the work of Richard Lester, who directed the Beatles film, “A Hard Day’s Night.” The comedy concerns a country girl trying to find the YWCA and falling instead into the hands of two Bohemian youths, one of whom has a knack for winning the favor of women. Rita Tushingham, Ray Brooks, and Michael Crawford play the leading roles. 

The original stage comedy opened on the London stage in 1962 and began the second year of its highly successful engagement in New York tonight under the direction of Mike Nichols.

The awards were presented this evening by Carol Baker and Alain Delon at a ceremony in the Festival Palace.

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