Best Boy (1979)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Ira Wohl

Writer:

Ira Wohl (written by)

Release Date:

2 April 1981 (Australia)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Plot:

In this documentary, the director follows the day-to-day activities of his retarded, middle-aged cousin Philly, over a three-year period.

Plot Keywords:

Cousin | Marriage | Jewish | Loss Of Father | Loss Of Husband

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Philip Wohl	...	Himself (as Philly Wohl)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zero Mostel	...	Himself
Christine O'Connor	...	Herself
Frances Reiss	...	Herself - Philly's Sister
Ira Wohl	...	Himself
Max Wohl	...	Himself
Pearl Wohl	...	Herself

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Only Child Motion Pictures

Quotes:

Max Wohl: I'm hungry.
Pearl Wohl: So eat.
Max Wohl: I'm eating.

Movie Connections:

Features "The $10,000 Pyramid" (1973)

Soundtrack:

If I Were a Rich Man

Excellent

This is an excellent film about the heartbreaking as well as the inspirational decisions that can and need to be made in life. Pearl's emotions (her happiness and especially her heartbreak) and the way they are captured not only by Wohl but by McDonough make this film a true masterpiece. I would recomend this to anyone, and its sad to see it has such a low rating on the database.

"Best Man", however, was not such an incredible film, and only when it is shown in conjunction with "Best Boy" could it garner any merit. The first fifteen minutes in particular seem to present Wohl as incredibly egocentric given the topic and situation of the film, and I truly wish I had not seen them.