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.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 4 nominations total
- Mrs. Peter
- (as Ann Jameson)
- Chauffeur
- (as Robert La'Bassiere)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThough much more lighthearted than most of his films, according to Ken Russell, this was the most difficult film he ever made.
- Quotes
Mme. Dubonnet: [singing] I am so good, At spreading mirth and joy
Percy: But it's no good, With such a sulky boy
Maisie, Fay, Dulcie, Nancy: I try, To play the game the other fellows all choose
Percy: The other fellows all choose
Maisie, Fay, Dulcie, Nancy: I sigh, Because you always refuse
Mme. Dubonnet: What is a girl to do, With such a boy as you? I've got those
Percy, Mme. Dubonnet, Maisie, Fay, Dulcie, Nancy: Dreary, Weary, You-Don't-Want-To-Play-With-Me Blues
- Crazy creditsKen Russell's Talking Picture
- Alternate versionsCBS edited 38 minutes from this film for its 1975 network television premiere.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Omnibus: Russell's Progress (1971)
- SoundtracksMain Titles (Overture)
Music by Sandy Wilson
Ken Russell takes a straightforward show and adds layers by having characters imagine bigtime Hollywood versions of the small touring company's musical numbers. This opens up the movie and makes for a dazzling spectacle of music, dance, and color. But without terrific performances, this would all be for nothing. Twiggy is really good as the shy Polly the stand-in. She and Christopher Gable make a nice dance team in several numbers. Max Adrian and Catherine Willmer are hilarious as the troop manager and his wife Hilda, as are Moyra Fraser and Bryan Pringle as the haughty star and his wife. My favorites are Antonia Ellis as the ferocious Maisie, Georgina Hale as the fog-horn voiced Fay, and Barbara Windsor as busty Hortense.
The music is great. Twiggy gets to sing "You Are My Lucky Star" and "All I Do the Whole Day Through." Hale and Adrian are memorable in "Never Too Old to Fall in Love." Fraser and Pringle are fun in "You Don't Want to Play with Me Blues," and the closing "Doing the Riviera" is a fond homage to Berkley with the famous chorus girls on winged plane number. Also love "The Boy Friend," "We're Perfect Young Ladies," "Nicer in Niece," "A Room in Bloomsbury," "Fancy Your Forgetting," and "Sur La Plage."
THE BOY FRIEND is a fond and loving spoof of old-time musicals and beautifully done. A must-see for all fans of classic musicals. Amazingly, Shirley Russell didn't get an Oscar nomination for the fabulous costumes.
2011 UPDATE: Warners has issued a remastered DVD and the color is spectacular!
- drednm
- Jan 15, 2005
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,300,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 17 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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