The Boy Friend

G

Released Dec 16, 1971

2h 16m

Musical

Comedy

List

88%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

When the leading lady of a traveling theatrical troupe injures herself, the group's shy and demure stage manager, Polly (Twiggy), is suddenly thrust into the spotlight to take her place. As luck would have it, she makes her debut on the same day that famous movie director De Thrill (Vladek Sheybal) attends the performance. Eager to make the jump to motion pictures, all of the actors play to De Thrill, compounding Polly problems. Only the leading man, Tony (Christopher Gable), is sympathetic.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

It's a delight, one of the high points of Russell's extravagantly uneven career.

Jan 9, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

It is delightful entertainment, novel and engaging.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

Consistency was never Russell's strong point.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

Addicts of old Hollywood musicals will adore adore Ken Russell's version of The Boy Friend. Those who know about impoverished touring theatre companies will revel in its gentle humor. Everyone else, I suspect, will generally find it fun.

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

George Melly

Observer (UK)

A lavish, affectionately caricatured pastiche of the backstage thirties film musical, but being Russell he has felt it necessary to aim at several other targets at the same time. The surprising thing is that on almost every level he has succeeded.

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

Michael Billington

Birmingham Post

I am less surprised than some of my colleagues that Russell's film of The Boy Friend turns out to be so hugely enjoyable and so packed with cinematic verve.

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

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alan g

Good movie. Fun acting. A Star is Born redefined. Twiggey is perfect. Ken Russell at his best.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

jon c

It's an outrageous take of the stage musicals of the 1920s to an affectionate salute to the cinematic musical fantasies of the 1930s to a satire of all the backstage Hollywood musicals ever It's Twiggy's film debut directed by Ken Russell When the leading lady of a traveling theatrical troupe injures herself, the group's shy and demure stage manager, Polly is suddenly thrust into the spotlight to take her place As luck would have it, she makes her debut on the same day that famous movie director De Thrill (Vladek Sheybal) attends the performance Eager to make the jump to motion pictures, all of the actors play to De Thrill, compounding Polly problems Only the leading man, Tony (Christopher Gable), is sympathetic A lot of big stage musical numbers are presented and they have some great flair, wardrobes, and lots of commitment The film just doesn't have a naturally flowing narrative which might make some viewers tired fast Not a lot of recognizable stars either The movie is long even though it does have an intermission Still gotta give it credit for celebrating the camp value of the musical

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Twiggy was surprisingly good but she is the only thing that really works.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Surprisingly straightforward Busby Berkley throwback style musical comedy from writer/director Ken Russell, the man behind such dark and edgy of films as "Altered State," "Lair of the White Worm," "Whore" and his boundary pushing D.H. Lawrence film adaptations. The story here follows a "42 Street" type of a story about a understudy, Twiggy, getting her big break when a stage musical's star cannot go on. This film is interesting in that it is quite true to the Busby Berkley style of musical numbers, though Russell films some of them in his own unique manner that incorporates backstage perspectives, occasional touches of the surreal, and infuses them with genuine emotion. Twiggy is quite good in the lead and gives a very likable performance. The photography is gorgeous. The period costumes and sets (which is mainly a theater), all seem spot on. I'm not a huge fan of musicals, but I found this one quite enjoyable. I'm guessing fans of this genre may find this film even more of a treat than I did.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

s r

Unusual to say the least. Some stunning choreographed visuals though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great sets, great style. Lots of sight gags that are supposed to be engaging, but it drags, drags, and gets boring very fast.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Ken Russell

Director

Twiggy

Polly Browne

Christopher Gable

Tony Brockhurst

Max Adrian

Max Mandeville aka Mr. Max

Moyra Fraser

Moyra Parkhill

Bryan Pringle

Percy Parkhill

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Synopsis

When the leading lady of a traveling theatrical troupe injures herself, the group's shy and demure stage manager, Polly (Twiggy), is suddenly thrust into the spotlight to take her place. As luck would have it, she makes her debut on the same day that famous movie director De Thrill (Vladek Sheybal) attends the performance. Eager to make the jump to motion pictures, all of the actors play to De Thrill, compounding Polly problems. Only the leading man, Tony (Christopher Gable), is sympathetic.

Director: Ken Russell
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Russflix
Rating: G
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 16m

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