She Got a Male Virgin Before Judd Apatow Did

Here's some Women In Film information that I've written before that bears repeating.  Why? Because I'm in full support of women directors and their history, a history that has often been overlooked and ignored.  Some may not even be aware of the history. Like the history of filmmaker Muriel Box.  I think successful director and writer Judd Apatow may be in the category of the "unaware."  Apatow was a happy dude in Hollywood in 2005 when the comedy he directed and co-wrote, THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, was a hit. The comedy starred Steve Carell in the title role.  Judd Apatow was a guest on ABC's daytime chat show, THE VIEW, on January 16th.

Mr. Apatow was there to tell us about a sitcom production of his that returns soon to HBO.  In addition to THE 40 YEAR OF VIRGIN, he directed KNOCKED UP starring Seth Rogen and TRAINWRECK starring Amy Schumer.  Disney is the parent company now to ABC and ABC has been giving us a rollercoaster ride of sex-related programming lately. Young women pursuing a male virgin bachelor. A look back at the sexually painful John Wayne Bobbitt story. A look back at the Monica Lewinski and Bill Clinton extra-marital sex scandal.  The current Caucasian male cutie pie to be THE BACHELOR has the hook of being a self-proclaimed virgin. At daybreak, on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, and in late night, on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!, he's proudly promoted his virginity while plugging the network's love connection reality show.  The undeflowered beefcake bachelor, of course, has been a topic on THE VIEW.  A few minutes before he appeared on the set with the ladies, Judd Apatow looked into the camera and bellowed to us viewers that he presented a male virgin over 21 years of age long before this current season of ABC's THE BACHELOR. He was referring to his 2005 comedy starring Steve Carell.

A woman beat Judd Apatow to a 40 year old male virgin before he showed us one onscreen.  And she did it in 1964.  There's little talk about British film director Muriel Box here in America. That needs to change.  She took a large and significant step into the uninviting, sexist territory of the filmmaking boys' club.  Muriel Box and her then-husband, Sydney Box, won Oscars in the Best Original Screenplay category for the 1945 psychological drama, THE SEVENTH VEIL, starring James Mason. After winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, Muriel Box turned her talents to directing. She directed her first film in 1949.  Muriel Box directed films starring Glynis Johns, Donald Pleasance, Sir Ralph Richardson, Julie Harris, Laurence Harvey, Van Johnson, Peter Finch and Shelley Winters. That's an impressive group of celebrated talent right there for a woman director who gets little attention.  Here's a photo of director/screenwriter Muriel Box (left) directing Shelley Winters (right) in the 1954 comedy, CASH ON DELIVERY.

The last film directed by Muriel Box was RATTLE OF A SIMPLE MAN based on the popular play of the same name that entertained audiences in London and on Broadway.  In 1964's RATTLE OF A SIMPLE MAN, a shy guy of 40 is in London with his buddies to see a big sports match.  The fellows have a festive night out on the town and the shy guy meets a prostitute who takes him to her apartment. Diane Cilento (Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee for her role opposite Albert Finney in 1963's TOM JONES) played the sweet prostitute who wins his heart.

From what I've read, the late Muriel Box had a rough go of it in her 1950s career as a British director solely because she was a woman. But she persevered.  She died in 1991.

And there you have it. A little history on a Woman In Film who took a grown man's virginity years before Judd Apatow did.