The Boy Friend (1971)

The assistant stage manager of a small-time theatrical company (Polly Browne) is forced to understudy for the leading lady (Rita) at a matinée performance at which an illustrious Hollywood ... See full summary »

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Ken Russell (screenplay), Sandy Wilson (musical)

Stars:

Twiggy, Christopher Gable, Max Adrian

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

The assistant stage manager of a small-time theatrical company (Polly Browne) is forced to understudy for the leading lady (Rita) at a matinée performance at which an illustrious Hollywood director (Cecil B. DeThrill) is in the audience scouting for actors to be in his latest "all-talking, all-dancing, all-singing" extravaganza. Polly also happens to fall in love with the leading man (Tony) and imagines several fabulous fantasy sequences in which the director is free to exercise his capacity for over-the-top visuals in this charming 1920's era flick.

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Plot Keywords:

fantasy sequence | 1920s | fighting to be in the spotlight | spoof | backstage | 

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Taglines:

A Glittering Super Colossal Heart Warming Toe-Tapping Continously Delightful Musical Extravaganza

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

31 March 1972 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Boy Friend

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Russflix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cameo role played by Glenda Jackson was originally offered to Julie Andrews, who had debuted in the original West End and Broadway productions of "The Boy Friend" in 1954.

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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".

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Connections

Spoofs Footlight Parade (1933)

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Soundtracks

"Poor Little Pierrette"
Music and Lyrics by Sandy Wilson
Performed by Moyra Fraser, Girls, and Twiggy (as Twiggy Lawson)

User Reviews

Fantastic!!!!!!

9 out of 10

Excellent musical that should be the basis for all other musicals. Seamless, flawless, and visually stunning. A wide variety of backdrops and settings are used. There is everything from the conventional dance line to a fairy tale setting where the performers are dressed like ladybugs and living in giant mushrooms. There is also a fun take off on Greek mythology done in a scenic forest setting.

By far the two best segments take place with them dancing on a giant record player and another with them made to look like characters on a giant playing card. The giant record player one as got to be the most impressive because they show them on not one, but two giant record players, side by side and from overhead. The dancers than dance on top of the giant turntables and , as a group, make unique symmetrical designs with their bodies. It's like a old Busby Berkley number and yet almost out does even him.

This is a rare film that can carry itself on visual level alone. The story is at best just a standard musical plot. It involves a group of underpaid actors who put on a tacky low budget musical for a small group of people. The film than interweaves between the low budget numbers, which are all still really good, and their visual fantasies of what things would look like if they had a big budget. Twiggy plays the shy awkward crew hand that comes on as the star when the leading lady breaks her leg.

Sure it is, at times, predictable, corny, and lightweight yet it also has a really good sense of humor. The songs ALL have a good score and the dances are certainly fun to watch. Twiggy may never score as a great actress, but she hits the mark here. She has a cute bob haircut and a constantly perplexed expression that is really amusing. All the other characters have amusing idiosyncracies also. Jackson is fun, of course, as the injured leading lady who comes back and is none too happy to see how successful her replacement is.

Some of director Russell's films have been considered excessive and nonsensical. Yet that is not the case here. His visual flair and indulgence really work. This guy has talent. He use of primary colors in every shot is nice.

This is truly a visual delight that is impressive even by todays standards. This is a really fun to watch.