You're a Big Boy Now (1966)

Post-teen virgin moves to New York City, falls for a cold-hearted beauty, then finds true love with a loyal lass.

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

David Benedictus (novel), Francis Ford Coppola (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Elizabeth Hartman, Geraldine Page, Peter Kastner

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Barbara Darling
Geraldine Page	...	Margery Chanticleer
Peter Kastner	...	Bernard Chanticleer
Rip Torn	...	I.H. Chanticleer
Michael Dunn	...	Richard Mudd
Tony Bill	...	Raef del Grado
Julie Harris	...	Miss Nora Thing
Karen Black	...	Amy Partlett
Dolph Sweet	...	Patrolman Francis Graf
Michael O'Sullivan	...	Kurt Dougherty
Ronald Colby	...	Barbara's Stage Play Crew (as Ron Colby)
Rufus Harley	...	Barbara's Stage Play Crew
Frank Simpson	...	Barbara's Stage Play Crew
Nina Varela	...	Barbara's Stage Play Crew
Len De Carl	...	Barbara's Stage Play Crew

Storyline

Bernard Chanticleer's father gives him two simple words of advice: "Grow up." Bernard knows that his first step is to find a girl who's "willing," but he passes up a sure thing, Amy Partlett, for a more elusive goal. Her name is Barbara Darling, an inscrutable go-go dancer. More than a few obstacles keep Bernard from his dream world. There's his doting mother, who mails him locks of her hair and weeps at the thought of her baby as a man; there's a malicious rooster, trained to attack pretty girls, patrolling the halls of his New York City rooming house; and most of all, there's Barbara herself. She turns out to be a man hater, emotionally scarred by the lecherous wooden-legged hypnotherapist who "counseled" her in high school. All in all, Bernard finds himself in an improbable universe with a calculated clumsiness designed to evoke his confusing coming-of-age.

---

Plot Keywords:

new york city | new york | love | cult film | library | 

---

Taglines:

Come Home Bernard. We Love You. Mummy and Daddy. (I Love You More Than Daddy)

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1967 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Big Boy

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Seven Arts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film shows the final portion of old Pennsylvania Station being demolished. Peter Kastner roller skates down 7th Avenue, right past the partially demolished 7th Ave. facade while the new Madison Square Garden tower rises in the background.

---

Goofs

The fleet number on the bus that Amy Partlett boards changes from #3528 to #6813.

---

Quotes

[Raef recites a poem of his]
Raef Del Grado: Oh, don't you think it's very odd, That we should kneel and pray to god, When by all accounts, we might, Send our problems up by kite!

---

Connections

Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

User Reviews

It's 1966, but you won't mind. This'll take you back.

What we have here is an early F.F.C. effort (he also wrote most of the screenplay).You can see the genius that is later to come.

Here's a confused, virginal young man, constantly picked on by his over-bearing parents, trying to find his way in the world of New York City. Bernard is his name and just watch what he does with initials he spots.

The gal that wants him he doesn't want, and the gal that he wants doesn't want him. Got it straight? No wonder this is turning into a "cult" film.

The acting is first rate in a lot of places. Geraldine Page is always great and Rip Torn can handle most roles. Julie Harris was "perfect" as Mrs. Thing (honest, that's her name). Speaking of names, the part played by Lisa Hartman is Barbara Darling, a would-be actress who dances in a go-go club at night.

Watching Bernard weave his way through conniving co-workers and the strange behavior of Miz Darling, is worth the price of admission.

I always wonder who writes these critiques for IMDB, and should I trust them? For that reason,I'd like you all to know that I am a male senior citizen, but this movie made me feel 18 again. You'll find yourself running into similar things that happened to you in your youthful pursuits.

You could do a lot worse taking a chance on a movie.