Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Boy Friend

  • 19711971
  • SS
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Twiggy in The Boy Friend (1971)
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.
Play trailer2:50
1 Video
82 Photos
ComedyMusicalRomance

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 p... Read allWhen 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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ken Russell
  • Writers
    • Sandy Wilson(based on a musical play by)
    • Ken Russell(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Twiggy
    • Christopher Gable
    • Max Adrian
  • Director
    • Ken Russell
  • Writers
    • Sandy Wilson(based on a musical play by)
    • Ken Russell(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Twiggy
    • Christopher Gable
    • Max Adrian
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 62User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:50
    Watch Trailer

    Photos82

    Max Adrian in The Boy Friend (1971)
    Twiggy in The Boy Friend (1971)
    Peter Greenwell in The Boy Friend (1971)
    The Boy Friend (1971)
    Antonia Ellis in The Boy Friend (1971)
    Murray Melvin in The Boy Friend (1971)
    The Boy Friend (1971)
    Sally Bryant in The Boy Friend (1971)
    The Boy Friend (1971)
    Twiggy in The Boy Friend (1971)
    Sally Bryant in The Boy Friend (1971)
    Moyra Fraser in The Boy Friend (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Twiggy
    Twiggy
    • Polly
    Christopher Gable
    Christopher Gable
    • Tony
    Max Adrian
    Max Adrian
    • Max
    Bryan Pringle
    Bryan Pringle
    • Percy
    Murray Melvin
    Murray Melvin
    • Alphonse
    Moyra Fraser
    Moyra Fraser
    • Mme. Dubonnet
    Georgina Hale
    Georgina Hale
    • Fay
    Sally Bryant
    • Nancy
    Vladek Sheybal
    Vladek Sheybal
    • De Thrill
    Tommy Tune
    Tommy Tune
    • Tommy
    Brian Murphy
    Brian Murphy
    • Peter
    Graham Armitage
    Graham Armitage
    • Michael
    Antonia Ellis
    Antonia Ellis
    • Maisie
    Caryl Little
    • Dulcie
    Anne Jameson
    • Mrs. Peter
    • (as Ann Jameson)
    Catherine Willmer
    Catherine Willmer
    • Catherine
    Robert La Bassiere
    • Chauffeur
    • (as Robert La'Bassiere)
    Barbara Windsor
    Barbara Windsor
    • Hortense
    • Director
      • Ken Russell
    • Writers
      • Sandy Wilson(based on a musical play by)
      • Ken Russell(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Though much more lighthearted than most of his films, according to Ken Russell, this was the most difficult film he ever made.
    • Quotes

      Polly: [singing] We've got to have, We plot to have, For it's a dreary not to have, That certain thing called "The Boy Friend"

    • Crazy credits
      Ken Russell's Talking Picture
    • Alternate versions
      CBS edited 38 minutes from this film for its 1975 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in Omnibus: Russell's Progress (1971)
    • Soundtracks
      Main Titles (Overture)
      Music by Sandy Wilson

    User reviews62

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    From Bad to Brilliant!
    Interesting how the user reviews have shifted from the first entries which mostly HATE this film through to the current ones which mostly seem to LOVE it. That's some kind of cultural progress and sophistication at least.... Personally it's one of my favorite Russell films and I especially love the brilliant orchestrations by Peter Maxwell Davies. BOYFRIEND will reportedly be screened in Sept. by the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. Russell has been in LA over the past month and I recently saw him at a screening of WOMEN IN LOVE and THE MUSIC LOVERS at the Aero in Santa Monica. Richard Chamberlain was also at the MUSIC LOVERS screening. So can't wait to see THE BOYFRIEND on the big WIDE screen again at last. I seem to remember that at the original first-run screening in NYC the fantasy sequences were all in stereo. Hope they manage to get that print at the Cinematheque.
    helpful•7
    0
    • rossco-3
    • Aug 27, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 31, 1972 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Boyfriend
    • Filming locations
      • Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Russflix
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,300,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Twiggy in The Boy Friend (1971)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for The Boy Friend (1971)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Trending: Stars to Watch
    See the gallery
    View image
    Photos
    Double Duty: Musicians-Turned-Actors
    See the full gallery
    View image
    Photos
    We Love These Hollywood Power Couples
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.