The Wild and the Willing is a 1962 British romantic drama film, directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, and Samantha Eggar. It is the film debuts of Ian McShane, John Hurt, and Samantha Eggar. It depicts a group of students at university. It was filmed on location in Lincoln, with Lincoln Castle doubling as the university. Plot A group of young men at university enjoy students' life – dancing, drinking, meeting girls. Harry (Ian McShane), a somewhat rebellious young man, is going out with Josie (Samantha Eggar). His roommate, Phil (John Hurt), is a quiet outsider. Harry feels very protective towards Phil for some reason. Phil loves Sarah (Katherine Woodville), but she has jilted him for a new boyfriend, who is in her opinion more suitable. As the plot develops, Harry gets involved with Professor Chown's (Paul Rogers) unhappy wife, Virginia (Virginia Maskell). The professor acts very aloofly towards her but doesn't want a divorce because he is expecting to be knighted. Harry wants Virginia to come away with him but she is too worried about her future and turns him down. Because of frustration Harry decides to pull a 'Rag Week' (annual student frolics) stunt. His idea is to climb the campus tower at night and raise a flag atop of it. He needs help to pull this off but all the other young men opt out for various reasons. Phil offers to join Harry, as he feels that Harry has done a lot to get him involved in campus life, rather than just living on the fringes. At first, Harry, worried about the consequences as Phil is not a good climber, refuses to take Phil along with him, but eventually, against his better judgment, he is persuaded to do so. Gilby (Jeremy Brett), a smart striver, is jealous of Harry, as he used to see Virginia until she rejected him. He notices the activities around the tower and reports Harry and Phil to the university authorities. The teachers are more annoyed than worried and call the fire brigade. The spectacle draws a crowd. Although Phil is a bad climber and slips several times, the two young men manage to reach the top and hoist their flag. But on the way down Phil loses his footing and, although Harry tries desperately to hold on to him, Phil slips from his grasp and falls to his