The Fast Lady

The Fast Lady

Year: 1962

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Ken Annakin

Comedy

She’s the fastest thing in town and oh boy! what a CHASSIS! A Scottish civil servant must learn how to drive a Bentley to impress his girlfriend’s tycoon father.

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Timeline & Setting – The Fast Lady (1962)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Fast Lady (1962). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

South London

Set in South London, the story follows Murdoch Troon, a shy civil servant, as his life becomes tangled with fast cars and faster ambitions. The action travels through urban streets, a golf course, and countryside roads as a high-spirited chase unfolds. The city and its surroundings serve as a backdrop for romance, competition, and a steady stream of comic mishaps.

🏙️ Urban 🚗 Car culture

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:47

Main Characters – The Fast Lady (1962)

Meet the key characters of The Fast Lady (1962), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Murdoch Troon (Stanley Baxter)

A proud Scot who works for a South London local government authority. He is shy and cycle-obsessed, yet possesses a stubborn determination to prove himself by driving The Fast Lady to win Claire. His earnest nature often collides with the chaotic humor of rapid fame and romance.

🎯 Protagonist 🚲 Bicycle lover 💘 Romantic 🏁 Speed dreamer

Claire Chingford (Julie Christie)

Daughter of a domineering car magnate who loves speed and freedom. She is drawn to Murdoch's sincerity but is wary of her father's control, using the romance as a way to glimpse a life beyond parental authority.

💃 Romantic 🚗 Car culture 🕊️ Independence

Charles Chingford (James Robertson Justice)

A powerful and protective father figure who runs the sports car distributorship. Initially skeptical of Murdoch, he ultimately admires the young man's driving skill, balancing authority with a grudging respect for genuine merit.

🧭 Authority 💼 Business 🏁 Driving

Freddie Fox (Leslie Phillips)

A wily used-car salesman and opportunist who schemes to win favor with Chingford and to land Murdoch a car. His charm and scheming inject comic energy into the plot, even as his plans backfire in spectacular fashion.

🧭 Opportunist 🚗 Car dealer 😂 Comic foil

Bodley (Allan Cuthbertson)

The driving test examiner who embodies strict formalism. His stern demeanor heightens the drama of the test, only for the situation to erupt into a full-blown chase that tests Murdoch's (and Bodley's) nerves.

🎯 Examiner 🧭 Strict 🏁 Judge

Wentworth (Eric Barker)

A secondary authority figure who interacts with the driving plot, contributing to the formalities and complications surrounding Murdoch's test and chase.

👮 Authority 🏁 Support

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:47

Major Themes – The Fast Lady (1962)

Explore the central themes of The Fast Lady (1962), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎯 Ambition

The Fast Lady uses Murdoch's bid to win Claire and prove himself to her domineering father to explore social mobility through speed. The car becomes a vehicle for self-definition and risk, forcing Murdoch to confront his own bravado and vulnerability. The tension between romance and status drives the plot, blending pratfalls with moments of genuine aspiration.

💘 Romance

Romance in the film grows from the idea that a car can bridge social gaps and transform relationships. Claire longs for freedom and thrills, while her father wields control as a test of loyalty and worth. Murdoch's earnestness clashes with comic chaos, creating a playful and hopeful love story set against speed and competition.

🏎️ Speed

Speed is a central motif, turning driving into a spectacle of pride and mishap. The Bentley's power and Murdoch's inexperience collide in a series of driving lessons, tests, and a police chase. The film teases car culture and masculine bravado through a string of outrageous, funny accelerations and near-disasters.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:47

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The Fast Lady Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Fast Lady, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Fast Lady Summary

The Fast Lady Timeline

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The Fast Lady Timeline

More About The Fast Lady

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The Fast Lady (1962) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Fast Lady (1962) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Fast Lady (1962) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow