The World of Henry Orient (1964)

A mischievous, adventuresome 14-year-old girl and her best friend begin following an eccentric concert pianist around New York City after she develops a schoolgirl crush on him.

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writers:

Nora Johnson (screenplay), Nunnally Johnson (screenplay),

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Paula Prentiss, Merrie Spaeth

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Sellers	...	Henry Orient
Paula Prentiss	...	Stella Dunnworthy
Angela Lansbury	...	Isabel Boyd
Tom Bosley	...	Frank Boyd
Phyllis Thaxter	...	Mrs. Avis Gilbert
Bibi Osterwald	...	Erica 'Boothy' Booth
Merrie Spaeth	...	Marian 'Gil' Gilbert
Tippy Walker	...	Valarie 'Val' Campbell Boyd
John Fiedler	...	Sidney
Al Lewis	...	Store Owner
Peter Duchin	...	Joe Daniels
Fred Stewart	...	Doctor
Philippa Bevans	...	Emma Hambler
Jerry Jerrett
Jane Buchanan	...	Lillian Kafritz

Storyline

Henry Orient is a madly egocentric and overly amorous avant-garde concert pianist who is hilariously pursued all around New York City by two 14-year-old fans. The girls, Val and Gil chase a harassed Henry all over the city, thwarting his afternoon liaisons with a married woman and leaving utter chaos behind them - until Val's sexually promiscuous mother appears on the scene to put a stop to the girls' shenanigans.

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Plot Keywords:

concert pianist | new york city | 14 year old | schoolgirl crush | shrine | 

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Taglines:

Step into the world of Henry Orient...and meet two junior-size misses and one king-size nut!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1964 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Deux copines, un séducteur

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pan Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1967, a musical version "Henry, Sweet Henry" opened on Broadway. Both the film and the musical adaptation were directed by George Roy Hill.

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Goofs

The balcony audience directly behind the conductor are clearly cardboard cut-outs.

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Quotes

[Describing his encounter with "Gil" and "Val", during an intimate moment with Mrs. Dunnworthy]
Henry Orient: ...And then two small bladders came out of their mouths. And just when she was beginning to hum, too.

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Connections

Referenced in Ghost World (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Henry Orient Concerto"
Music by Ken Lauber (as Kenneth Lauber)

User Reviews

This was also the Sixties

The sixties became The Sixties around the time of this film, 1964. There was a time, believe it or not, when kids played grown-up, instead of the other way around, as is the case today. Two cute girls are venturing from childhood to youth, in a benign Manhattan. They have a crush on a pianist-lothario who happens to be Peter Sellers. You can imagine the complications - and the hilarity.

What makes this film so appealing, is the way it portrays sexual awakening and same-sex bonding as a completely unsordid and sweet experience. Yes, there is pathos, when the two discover how adults have turned their world into Henry Orient's world.

Although the cast is sterling all around, Tom Bosley is a standout as father to one of the girls, who helps put things to rights.

If the Kennedy assassination and Vietnam are cultural watersheds, then this film is a wonderful cinematic artifact; it gives the lie to the condescending put-downs of the era by the current generation.