The History Boys (2006)

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:

White Briefs | Cambridge England | Homosexual | War Memorial | Golf

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:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Free Range Films

Trivia:

Richard Griffiths' character rides a Velocette motorcycle

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the start of the film several school subjects are mentioned, including Media Studies. Media Studies is a relatively new subject that certainly wouldn't have been taught in provincial Sheffield in 1983.

Quotes:

Dakin: How do you think history happens?
Tom Irwin: What?
Dakin: How does stuff happen, do you think? People decide to do stuff. Make moves. Alter things.
Tom Irwin: I'm not sure what you're talking about.
Dakin: No? Think about it.
Tom Irwin: Some do... make moves, I suppose. Others react to events. In 1939 Hitler made a move on Poland. Poland defended itself.
Dakin: ...gave in.
Tom Irwin: Is that what you mean?
Dakin: No. Not Poland anyway. Was Poland taken by surprise?
Tom Irwin: To some extent. Though they knew something was up.

Movie Connections:

References Gilda (1946)

Soundtrack:

Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag

Almost a First

A very good film - not setting black against white but looking at flawed people and complex arguments. Also brilliantly funny.

Not quite as good as the play because some balance was lost - I think this was due to pressure of time, A lot of the classroom debate and argument was shortened, the glimpses into the present were omitted so that Irwin's descent into pure spin was not seen and a couple of the boys characters weren't fleshed out enough. This combined to throw the obviously shocking scenes, such as Hector's behaviour, too much into the centre of the film. The classroom performances also jarred as a bit too theatrical, whereas on stage they were believable, apt and very funny.

Worryingly realistic sets – I thought I'd put the smell of school classrooms well behind me - and memorable performances from the entire cast. Jamie Parker, Andrew Knott, Samuel Barnett and Frances de la Tour were the standouts for me, but I still can't decide whether it was their performances or the characters they played.