A classic war movie covering the period when Italy moving from fighting the allies through surrender to fighting the Axis powers. The charming story is seen through the eyes of Angelo, young aristocrat, who believes he lacks 'il dono di coraggio' - roughly 'the gift of courage'. He runs away from his unit at the front and tries to fit back into a civilian society that has yet to experience the horrors of 'liberation' by the invading armies. The war and its awful results are portrayed honestly. With a light-hearted irony the meaning of courage becomes clearer as different characters strive to live human lives during the turmoil. Angelo finds his true vocation and love in the heart of the Italian countryside. This is a must-see movie....
Reviews
2 Reviews
The Boy Friend
(1971)
A Wonderful Romance
18 October 2004
What happens when you take a 1920's musical and have a cold-eyed expert director film it? Movie theatre magic! The film is the only serious movie role I know of for 60's supermodel Twiggy. She plays the mousey assistant stage manager for a small musical troupe, and does it surprisingly well. When the leading lady (Glenda Jackson) breaks her leg in an accident, the spotlight of destiny falls on - you've guessed it - on the mousey assistant stage manager. This is, of course, 100% schmaltz - but that is why we are watching. We even sigh rather than throw up when the (handsome and young) leading man takes her glasses off and says something like 'But you're beautiful without your glasses...' Of course - that's what is meant to happen at a carnival. And, of course, the hero's father is - well, I'll leave you to work that one out. The music is fine, simple and bouncy, and Russell's shooting of the action on stage put us with the actors and their struggles to create a performance.
I particularly enjoyed the way the dancing was shot; no theatre audience gets to see the up-close, profession view of feet hammering and the floorboards yielding as the dancers perform. Russell even provides a Busby Berkeley that is worth seeing by itself. A classic that MUST be put out on DVD. Today!
I particularly enjoyed the way the dancing was shot; no theatre audience gets to see the up-close, profession view of feet hammering and the floorboards yielding as the dancers perform. Russell even provides a Busby Berkeley that is worth seeing by itself. A classic that MUST be put out on DVD. Today!
Tell Your Friends