Watch The Boy Friend

The Boy Friend is a 1971 musical romantic comedy film directed by Ken Russell, starring fashion model Twiggy, Christopher Gable, and Max Adrian. The movie is set in the early 1920s and revolves around the story of a group of theatre actors rehearsing for their new musical show, "The Boy Friend", in a seaside resort in England. Twiggy plays Polly Browne, a shy and innocent stage assistant who works at De Thriller's theater company in France. One day, she gets a chance to audition for the leading role in the upcoming musical show, "The Boy Friend," after its star actress breaks her leg. Polly aces the audition and gets the part, but little does she know that the show's director, Tony Brockhurst (Christopher Gable), has a crush on her.

The movie follows the rehearsals of the show, where Polly and Tony's love story unfolds. There are many obstacles that they face along the way, including the jealous behavior of their co-stars, Angela (Gloria Grahame) and Billy (Tommy Tune).

The movie's musical numbers are charming and catchy, featuring classic tunes from the 1920s, such as "Won't You Charleston With Me," "A Room in Bloomsbury," and "It's Never Too Late to Fall in Love." The cast's performances, particularly Twiggy's, are impressive and enjoyable, showcasing the talent of the actors as both singers and dancers.

Apart from the star-studded cast and delightful musical numbers, what makes The Boy Friend stand out is Ken Russell's direction. The movie's visual style is quirky and eccentric, with bold and colorful set designs and costumes that are reminiscent of the 1920s. The camera often takes a dizzying and playful approach, constantly moving and zooming in and out, which adds to the movie's overall cheerful and lighthearted tone.

However, The Boy Friend isn't just a happy-go-lucky, feel-good movie. It also touches on the darker side of show business and the sacrifices that actors must make in order to succeed. For example, the character of Tommy (Brian Murphy), a veteran actor who plays Polly's father in the show, is struggling to make ends meet and is constantly worried about keeping his job. If the show fails, he will lose his livelihood.

Overall, The Boy Friend is an engaging and delightful musical comedy that will leave you tapping your feet and humming the tunes long after you leave the theater. It's a charming throwback to the golden era of musical theater and a shining example of how to bring Broadway to the big screen.

The Boy Friend is a 1971 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.