The Boys in the Band is an adaptation of a stage play by writer Mart Crowley. It was an intelligent but controversial drama of gay life in New York City with a group of thirty-something men who throw a birthday party for one of their friends.
The film version is directed by William Friedkin, who would go on to win a Best Director Oscar the following year for the hard boiled thriller, The French Connection and later get further acclaim for his film The Exorcist.
Michael (Kenneth Nelson) is Catholic, he drinks too much, acerbic but can also be witty as well as waspish is preparing the birthday party for his friend Harold. He is helped by Donald to prepare for the party. Micheal's old college friend, Alan rings him that he is in town and dropping by to see him. Alan is straight and at college, Micheal kept his gay identity latent and Alan is unaware that he is gay.
When the party gets going we see the different personalities. Emory is a stereotypical queen, Hank is married but is about to get divorced as he now lives with Larry, a fashion photographer. Bernard is the most amiable of the lot, a black bookshop clerk.
Once Alan drops in who is clearly uncomfortable with what he sees the drama steps up. He gets involved in a scuffle with Emory who ignores Micheal's instructions to tone it down. Alan has a rapport with Hank, who is outwardly the straightest, but then shocked to discover Hank is bisexual despite having kids.
Micheal realises that Alan has actually come to see him as he might be having issues with his sexual identity and creates a party game. As the game progresses, certain truths are laid bare but things do not turn out as Micheal envisages.
For a film that is nearly fifty years old, I was astonished to see how little the film has dated. Even the featured song, The Look of Love, fits well. Since 1970 there has been more liberalization of gay rights in the west, but still the drama feels very real, it is all about relationships and how people communicate with each other.
When Micheal recalls the stories about when he was younger and went to parties 'I was so drunk last night' that he could not remember that he might have had gay encounters, when in fact he really knew what he was doing. I am sure some in the audience might agree with him albeit reluctantly.
With Harold you see someone like Micheal who has religious issues, Harold being Jewish. Harold is also more preening, forever wanting to look young and popping various pills and he is the only one throughout the night who can respond in kind to Micheal if he so desires.
The one thing that ages the film although it is touched upon in the film with mention of Hepatitis, is of course AIDS which emerged in the 1980s. AIDs has had a devastating impact on the mainly gay cast, many of them who died relatively young.
This is a landmark film for queer cinema as it is an attempt to bring it into the mainstream and has a complex look at gay life.
The film version is directed by William Friedkin, who would go on to win a Best Director Oscar the following year for the hard boiled thriller, The French Connection and later get further acclaim for his film The Exorcist.
Michael (Kenneth Nelson) is Catholic, he drinks too much, acerbic but can also be witty as well as waspish is preparing the birthday party for his friend Harold. He is helped by Donald to prepare for the party. Micheal's old college friend, Alan rings him that he is in town and dropping by to see him. Alan is straight and at college, Micheal kept his gay identity latent and Alan is unaware that he is gay.
When the party gets going we see the different personalities. Emory is a stereotypical queen, Hank is married but is about to get divorced as he now lives with Larry, a fashion photographer. Bernard is the most amiable of the lot, a black bookshop clerk.
Once Alan drops in who is clearly uncomfortable with what he sees the drama steps up. He gets involved in a scuffle with Emory who ignores Micheal's instructions to tone it down. Alan has a rapport with Hank, who is outwardly the straightest, but then shocked to discover Hank is bisexual despite having kids.
Micheal realises that Alan has actually come to see him as he might be having issues with his sexual identity and creates a party game. As the game progresses, certain truths are laid bare but things do not turn out as Micheal envisages.
For a film that is nearly fifty years old, I was astonished to see how little the film has dated. Even the featured song, The Look of Love, fits well. Since 1970 there has been more liberalization of gay rights in the west, but still the drama feels very real, it is all about relationships and how people communicate with each other.
When Micheal recalls the stories about when he was younger and went to parties 'I was so drunk last night' that he could not remember that he might have had gay encounters, when in fact he really knew what he was doing. I am sure some in the audience might agree with him albeit reluctantly.
With Harold you see someone like Micheal who has religious issues, Harold being Jewish. Harold is also more preening, forever wanting to look young and popping various pills and he is the only one throughout the night who can respond in kind to Micheal if he so desires.
The one thing that ages the film although it is touched upon in the film with mention of Hepatitis, is of course AIDS which emerged in the 1980s. AIDs has had a devastating impact on the mainly gay cast, many of them who died relatively young.
This is a landmark film for queer cinema as it is an attempt to bring it into the mainstream and has a complex look at gay life.