The Boy Friend **** (1971, Twiggy, Christopher Gable, Max Adrian, Tommy Tune, Barbara Windsor) – Classic Movie Review 5446

Writer-director Ken Russell brings Sandy Wilson’s enchanting show spoofing Twenties stage musicals to the screen as a delightful 1971 British film homage to Thirties Hollywood musicals, particularly those of Busby Berkeley.

Twiggy captivates in her début as Polly Browne, the talented young unknown performer, a small-time theatrical company’s assistant stage manager, forced to replace sick leading lady Rita Monroe (Glenda Jackson, uncredited) on opening night. Twiggy won two Golden Globes, as Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Most Promising Newcomer – Female. Christopher Gable also pleases as Polly’s leading man Tony, the stage partner she falls in love with. Gable is also the film’s musical choreographer.

There are also fun support turns from Max Adrian as the impresario Max, Vladek Sheybal as the Hollywood producer-director Cecil B DeThrill, Barbara Windsor as Hortense and Tommy Tune as Tommy. Adrian was nominated posthumously for a Bafta as Best Supporting Actor

And all of Wilson’s smashing songs are here: ‘I Could Be Happy’, ‘A Room in Bloomsbury’, ‘All I Do Is Dream of You’, ‘You Are My Lucky Star’.

The critics mauled the film, and it didn’t make back its high costs. What more did people want? It’s ace.

Also in the cast are Moyra Fraser, Bryan Pringle, Murray Melvin, Georgina Hale, Brian Murphy, Antonia Ellis, Graham Armitage, Caryl Little, Sally Bryant and Anne Jameson.

It runs 137 minutes, 125 minutes in the short UK version, 140 minutes in the director’s cut and 109 minutes in the US version.

The theatre Russell uses is The New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5446

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