IMDb > The Boy Friend (1971)
The Boy Friend
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The Boy Friend (1971) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   1,273 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ken Russell
Writers:
Ken Russell (screenplay)
Sandy Wilson (musical)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Boy Friend on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
31 March 1972 (Finland) more
Genre:
Comedy | Musical | Romance more
Tagline:
EMI-MGM Presents The Return Of Entertainment more
Plot:
The assistant stage manager of a small-time theatrical company (Polly Browne) is forced to understudy... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Absolutely Brilliant more (29 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Twiggy ... Polly Browne
Christopher Gable ... Tony Brockhurst
Max Adrian ... Max Mandeville aka Mr. Max / Lord Hubert Brockhurst
Bryan Pringle ... Percy Parkhill / Percy Browne
Murray Melvin ... Alphonse
Moyra Fraser ... Moyra Parkhill / Madame 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)
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Boyfriend (USA) (alternative spelling)
more
Runtime:
137 min | UK:125 min (short UK version) | UK:140 min (director's cut) | USA:109 min (US version) | USA:138 min (TCM print)
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English | French
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ranked #2 on the National Board of Review's top ten list for 1971. more
Quotes:
Polly Browne: [singing] We want to have, we plot to have, for it's so dreary not to have that certain thing called "The Boyfriend". more
Movie Connections:
Spoofs Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) more
Soundtrack:
Sur Le Plage more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
Absolutely Brilliant, 10 January 2006
10/10
Author: westegg from New York

I'm delighted to read of people discovering and praising this film right through to the present, and I'm both amused and appalled by those who find this film somehow terrible. Since I first saw it in 1971, I've always considered it an absolutely brilliant tour de force; how many musicals in the last 40 years have matched its unique energy and visual inventiveness? Sure, it kind of ransacks the original Sandy Wilson musical, but I think a conventional, strictly faithful film version would not have worked as well. This one has a streak of genius throughout, thanks to director Ken Russell, cast and crew. Twiggy is the charming heart of the film; kind of like an Alice in Wonderland amid all the colorful backstage madness. She emotionally anchors the film with her vulnerability. Practically every scene has a memorable flourish, and it's consistently witty. So few musicals capture this kind of spirit. It's a shame it isn't on DVD, but maybe there's hope for Blu-Ray? Ignore the naysayers. Try and catch it on TCM.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (29 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Boy Friend (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Is it worth seeing if you're in the show? amandaschroder
What kind of dope? onenote
`living in a Palace is so full of phalluses`?? bobbobato
School Production ziggieward
When will it come out on dvd? ninkursag
I Haven't Seen It...But... its_all_Bright
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