The History Boys (2006)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers:

Alan Bennett (screenplay)
Alan Bennett (play)

Release Date:

13 October 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Meet The Boys Who Are Making History!

Plot:

An unruly class of gifted and charming teenage boys pursue of sex, sport, and higher education.

Plot Keywords:

Class | Headmaster | Oxford | School | Student

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Samuel Anderson	...	Crowther
James Corden	...	Timms
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Irwin
Richard Griffiths	...	Hector
Frances de la Tour	...	Mrs. Lintott
Andrew Knott	...	Lockwood
Russell Tovey	...	Rudge
Jamie Parker	...	Scripps
Dominic Cooper	...	Dakin
Samuel Barnett	...	Posner
Sacha Dhawan	...	Akhtar
Clive Merrison	...	The Headmaster
Penelope Wilton	...	Mrs. Bibby
Adrian Scarborough	...	Wilkes
Georgia Taylor	...	Fiona

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual content.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:15 | Germany:o.Al. | Australia:M | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Belgrave Avenue, Claremount, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Free Range Films

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "The History Boys" by Alan Bennett opened at the Broadhurst Theater in New York on April 23, 2006, ran for 185 performances and won the 2006 Tony Award for the Best Play. Samuel Anderson, James Corden, Frances de la Tour, Dominic Cooper, Sacha Dhawan, Jamie Parker, Stephen Campbell Moore, Russell Tovey, Colin Haigh, Samuel Barnett and Andrew Knott recreated their Broadway roles in this filmed production. Samuel Barnett was nominated for the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Alan Bennett also wrote the teleplay for this filmed production.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The lollipop lady that reports Hector to the headmaster carries a sign that carries the international symbol for children, which has only recently started replacing the old sign that stated "STOP CHILDREN" - which would have been the sign used in 1983.

Quotes:

Dakin: The more you read, though, the more you'll see that literature is actually about losers.
Scripps: No.
Dakin: It's consolation. All literature is consolation.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-11-25)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Bye Bye Blackbird

the best film i've seen on growing up

So many moments in this film struck a chord with me. As a grammar school student applying for Oxbridge, I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. The worries and pressures, as well as the arrogance, humour (and sheer smart-aleckness) that surround the boys' dialogue perfectly capture the hilarity and torture of adolescence. The dialogue is a little stage-y, but that doesn't seriously tarnish its impact. I think this film expresses the uncertainty and risk involved in life in a way that is both poignant and witty; often both at the same time. Ideas about what education should really be could not be more beautifully expressed than in this picture of young boys with their whole lives stretched out in front of them, and old teachers still unsure of what it's all about. Subtle and brilliant.