The Boys in the Band (1970) directed by William Friedkin

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Director: William Friedkin

Writers: Mart Crowley (play)
Mart Crowley (screenplay)

Release Date: 17 March 1970 (USA)
November 2003 (Italy - Festa per il compleanno del caro amico Harold - Turin Film Festival)

Genre: Drama

Tagline: "The Boys in the Band" ...is not a musical.

Plot: A sensitive yet humorous adaptation of the stage play, this 1970 film directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist) is one of the first films to openly address gay issues in a matter-of-fact style that largely avoids stereotyping. Shot on one set and featuring a birthday party as the festive setting, a group of friends assemble to celebrate, reminisce, and discuss their lives and the travails of being gay, even as one friend insists he's straight. The night turns from a light celebration to a sometimes-vindictive ordeal of revelation and betrayal, as each man in turn must confess his true feelings. Performed by the original cast of the stage production, the film may feel dated to some, but it still manages to be truthful and entertaining as it explores a subject that to this day is not often addressed. (Robert Lane)

Awards: 1971 Golden Globe Nomination as Most Promising Newcomer - Male (Kenneth Nelson)
1971 Golden Laurel Award (3rd place) as Star of Tomorrow - Male (Cliff Gorman)
1971 Golden Laurel Nomination (4th place) as Star of Tomorrow - Male (Leonard Frey)

@IMDb
@Amazon: The Boys in the Band
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video


The cast of ‘Boys in the Band’ with playwright Mart Crowley, left. Next to him are Laurence Luckinbill as Hank, the late Frederick Combs as Donald, the late Robert La Tourneaux as 'Cowboy,' the late Kenneth Nelson as Michael, the late Leonard Frey as Harold, the late Cliff Gorman as Emory, the late Keith Prentice as Larry, Peter White as Alan and Reuben Greene as Bernard. (Photo courtesy of the Karpel Group)









Cast (in credits order)
Kenneth Nelson ... Michael
Peter White ... Alan
Leonard Frey ... Harold
Cliff Gorman ... Emory
Frederick Combs ... Donald
Laurence Luckinbill ... Hank
Keith Prentice ... Larry
Robert La Tourneaux ... Cowboy
Reuben Greene ... Bernard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maud Adams ... Photo Model
Elaine Kaufman ... Extra / pedestrian (uncredited)

The Boys in the Band

Michael & Donald


Larry & Hank


Emory & Bernard


Harold & Cowboy


Alan


The original poster

Comments

[lab-jazz.livejournal.com]

That looks like a really good movie...maybe I'll buy it from Amazon

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Really good indeed. This was one of the first gay movie I saw when I was very young (don't remember if I saw first Maurice, this one or Torch Song Trilogy, but they are all more or less at the same time). I always liked it and so I was happy when I saw that they re-released it in DVD. The opening sequence is one of the best I remember.

[lab-jazz.livejournal.com]

You've made up my mind for me :)

The last Gay movie I brought was "Bangkok Love Story", I think that i heard about that from one of your posts also

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I posted about Bangkok Love Story. I liked it but it was so sad... The Boys in the Band is not so sad, but there is not a real love story in it, even if all the couple I listed above have their personal love story that is played on the movie. Elisa

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

All those "the late" credits in the photo... AIDS, I wonder? I remember my (also late) mother going postal over the ads for this film - she was a religious fanatic, I'm sure my books would have her spinning like a top.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have your same thought but it was very difficul to find info. Only to find the single pics of the characters I needed to browse a lot. Problem is that they were mostly theater actors and so very few info arrived to us. Elisa

[ggymeta.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

My friend Stephen Rader blogged on this film a few months back because it mentioned in the Windy-City Queercast he was co-hosting [the new DVD release stateside]. His consensus was simple:

Or maybe it's because, no matter what anyone says about how much gay men have evolved, if you put a bunch of gay men into a room - - birthday party, hustler and old college chum optional - - you will get The Boys in the Band.

http://stephenrader.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-i-am-michael-is-32-year-old-ugly.html

Great take on the film.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, probably after this film, all the other are only copies (bad or good, but copies nevertheless). Elisa

[ggymeta.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

Have you checked in on Laura lately. I know she's been blue, and I wasn't sure if she's kept in touch with you or not-- she very much loved your piece on her here. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I spoke to her just yesterday. We exchanged some email and I gave her a contact with a publisher to see if they are interested in some cover art. I hope the thing will move on, since she really needs to be appreciated for her work. Elisa

[mountie123.livejournal.com]

This looks really good Elisa. Something my friend & I should watch when we have a "girls" night. He'd love it. ;-)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's not an easy movie, but it's very "true", above all if you think on the time it was directed. Elisa