The Boy Friend (1971)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Ken Russell (screenplay)
Sandy Wilson (musical)

Release Date:

31 March 1972 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

EMI-MGM Presents The Return Of Entertainment

Plot:

The assistant stage manager of a small-time theatrical company (Polly Browne) is forced to understudy...

Plot Keywords:

1920s | Fantasy Sequence | Rivalry | Backstage | Spoof

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Twiggy	...	Polly Browne
Christopher Gable	...	Tony Brockhurst
Max Adrian	...	Max Mandeville aka Mr. Max / Lord Hubert Brockhurst
Bryan Pringle	...	Percy Parkhill / Percy Browne
Murray Melvin	...	Alphonse
Moyra Fraser	...	Moyra Parkhill / Madame Dubonnet
Georgina Hale	...	Fay
Sally Bryant	...	Nancy
Vladek Sheybal	...	De Thrill
Tommy Tune	...	Tommy
Brian Murphy	...	Peter
Graham Armitage	...	Michael
Antonia Ellis	...	Maisie
Caryl Little	...	Dulcie
Anne Jameson	...	Mrs. Peter (as Ann Jameson)

Also Known As:

The Boyfriend (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

137 min | UK:125 min (short UK version) | UK:140 min (director's cut) | USA:109 min (US version) | USA:138 min (TCM print)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Ranked #2 on the National Board of Review's top ten list for 1971.

Quotes:

Polly Browne: [singing] We want to have, we plot to have, for it's so dreary not to have that certain thing called "The Boyfriend".

Movie Connections:

Featured in That's Dancing! (1985)

Soundtrack:

End Titles

The Boyfriend (1971, director's cut): *** (out of four)

Ken Russell followed the X-rated 'The Devils' with this G-rated musical in 1971, based on Sandy Wilson's play of the same name. The film is not a straight adaptation, though. Rather, it is a behind-the-scenes look at a third-rate theatre troupe putting on the play. Most of all, the movie is a spoof of musicals and a biting satire on show-business. It makes for an entertaining movie, but the results are mixed. Russell is at his best with the fantasy sequences and the Berkley style musical numbers. One sequence is filmed as a silent movie in the forest, with characters playing Greek gods. Another has the characters imagining themselves doing the play in Hollywood (since they have been informed that there is a famous director in the audience). Twiggy is delightful as the girl who gets her chance, when the big star (Glenda Jackson) breaks her leg. Jackson is also good in her cameo role. (She opted out of 'The Devils' and did this film as a favor to Russell.) The lavish visuals are, at some times, breathtaking. And the acting is splendid. However, some of Russell's tastelessness does creep in, which is fine since this film is a satire, but sometimes you wonder why (the "dog scat on your spats" joke never really works and seems out of place.) And the director's cut is a bit too long. It is easy to see why it was trimmed by 25 minutes upon the original release. But to appreciate the film, one has to see it on the big screen. The pan-and-scan VHS does not do the movie justice, since the story does not hold up well enough to compensate for the visuals. Even though it was a box-office failure in 1971, you can see the influence it has had on some recent musicals like 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Chicago'. I would not call this one of Ken Russell's best films, but it certainly shows his professionalism as a master stylist... And yes, Twiggy can sing and dance pretty well!