When the leading lady of a low-budget musical revue sprains her ankle, the assistant stage manager is forced to understudy and perform in her place, becoming a star and finding love in the process.
The Watchmen and San Andreas star leans into a different side of herself to play a hard-hitting new role.
Related News
-
Thandie Newton, Christopher Nolan, Sophie Okonedo & ‘His Dark Materials’ Author Philip Pullman Score New Year Honors
28 December 2018 | Deadline -
Julie Andrews movies: 15 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include ‘The Sound of Music,’ ‘Mary Poppins’
01 October 2018 | Gold Derby -
Julie Andrews movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
01 October 2018 | Gold Derby
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The Boy Friend (1971)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
Savage Messiah
(1972)
Biography
|
Drama
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Dorothy Tutin,
Scott Antony,
Helen Mirren
Mahler
(1974)
Biography
|
Drama
|
Music
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Robert Powell,
Georgina Hale,
Lee Montague
Valentino
(1977)
Biography
|
Drama
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Rudolf Nureyev,
Leslie Caron,
Michelle Phillips
Women in Love
(1969)
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Alan Bates,
Oliver Reed,
Glenda Jackson
Lisztomania
(1975)
Biography
|
Comedy
|
Music
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Roger Daltrey,
Sara Kestelman,
Paul Nicholas
The Music Lovers
(1971)
Biography
|
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Richard Chamberlain,
Glenda Jackson,
Max Adrian
The Rainbow
(1989)
Action
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Sammi Davis,
Amanda Donohoe,
Paul McGann
The Devils
(1971)
Biography
|
Drama
|
History
Director:
Ken Russell
Stars:
Vanessa Redgrave,
Oliver Reed,
Dudley Sutton
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Michael Winner
Stars:
Oliver Reed,
Orson Welles,
Carol White
The Assassination Bureau
(1969)
Certificate: M
Action
|
Adventure
|
Comedy
Director:
Basil Dearden
Stars:
Oliver Reed,
Diana Rigg,
Telly Savalas
Ten Little Indians
(1974)
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Peter Collinson
Stars:
Charles Aznavour,
Maria Rohm,
Adolfo Celi
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Twiggy | ... | Polly | |
 |
Christopher Gable | ... | Tony |
| Max Adrian | ... | Max | |
| Bryan Pringle | ... | Percy | |
| Murray Melvin | ... | Alphonse | |
| Moyra Fraser | ... | Mme. 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) |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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. Written by Bliss Blood <soundex@sccsi.com>
Taglines:
A Glittering Super Colossal Heart Warming Toe-Tapping Continously Delightful Musical Extravaganza See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Release Date:
25 February 1972 (Ireland) See more »Also Known As:
The Boyfriend See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$750,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (short UK) | (director's cut) | (US) | (TCM print)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Music and Lyrics by Sandy Wilson
Performed by Company
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The turntable dance sequence was nearly impossible to shoot because Elstree studios were too low for the usual 35mm Panavision camera to capture the bird's eye view, do the crew had to import a 70mm camera from the States. See more »Crazy Credits
Ken Russell's Talking Picture See more »Alternate Versions
The 1987 re-release by M-G-M/United Artists Classics restored 26 minutes that had been trimmed for the original theatrical release from director Russell's initial 134-minute cut. The longer version included two songs, "It's Nicer in Nice" and "The You-Don't-Want-To-Play-With-Me Blues" as well as the seven minute Grecian bacchanal party fantasy. See more »Soundtracks
Act I Finale: The Boy FriendMusic and Lyrics by Sandy Wilson
Performed by Company
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.
Twiggy (modeling phenomenon of '60's swinging London) showed a surprising capacity for acting, singing and dancing as an understudy thrown into subbing for an injured star in a run-down production of .... the Boy Friend. The realistic depiction of a touring production on the skids contrasts with the Hollywood-extravaganza version of the show as seen in the imagination of a Hollywood director sitting in the audience. Wonderful performances from Tommy Tune and Glenda Jackson (small hobble-on as the injured star). The film is sweet and not frequently seen.