There are no great singing voices in this musical, but all of the songs, dance numbers and skits are good. Comedy is properly billed first for "The Boy Friend," and it clearly carries the film. But the song and dance is an integral part of the plot. Because it's a story about people involved in a theater production. The production itself closely resembles the old-fashioned type of musical stage reviews, with lots of dance numbers (including chorus girls), songs and skits. The plot is a very thin thread that ties it all together.
This is a film version of a very successful British play of 1954. Julie Andrews made her American debut in the Broadway production of the musical that same year. The musical quality of the stage productions probably equaled or trumped the comedy that is foremost in this film version.
Some film fans might remember Twiggy when she first became known as a top model in the late 1960s. I didn't recall that she had a film career at all, until coming across this musical. She's quite funny and her singing voice is passable. Still, one can see why she had only a sparse acting career after this.
Probably the best known of the rest of the cast is Tommy Tune, a superb dancer. He appeared two years before this film as a co-star in "Hello, Dolly." Tune has appeared in only three films and four TV series in five decades. But he has a lengthy career on stage. Besides his dancing he has choreographed and directed many Broadway musicals. He has nine total Tony awards in four different categories. This film has just a couple of short dance numbers for Tune as Tommy.
The rest of the cast contribute to the comedy in their one-upmanship efforts as they play directly to a Hollywood scout who has come to watch their stage production. The humor is in the obvious hamming it up and back-stabbing of one another in their songs and comedy routines.
The producers put a lot into this film, with superb props and examples of live stage supports for theater. In itself, that recommends the film for viewing by those who might yearn for a theater career.
Outside of the stage performances within the film, the story is a little hard to follow. There are two or three subplots overlaid here. "The Boy Friend" is an amusing and fun musical romance that most should enjoy.
This is a film version of a very successful British play of 1954. Julie Andrews made her American debut in the Broadway production of the musical that same year. The musical quality of the stage productions probably equaled or trumped the comedy that is foremost in this film version.
Some film fans might remember Twiggy when she first became known as a top model in the late 1960s. I didn't recall that she had a film career at all, until coming across this musical. She's quite funny and her singing voice is passable. Still, one can see why she had only a sparse acting career after this.
Probably the best known of the rest of the cast is Tommy Tune, a superb dancer. He appeared two years before this film as a co-star in "Hello, Dolly." Tune has appeared in only three films and four TV series in five decades. But he has a lengthy career on stage. Besides his dancing he has choreographed and directed many Broadway musicals. He has nine total Tony awards in four different categories. This film has just a couple of short dance numbers for Tune as Tommy.
The rest of the cast contribute to the comedy in their one-upmanship efforts as they play directly to a Hollywood scout who has come to watch their stage production. The humor is in the obvious hamming it up and back-stabbing of one another in their songs and comedy routines.
The producers put a lot into this film, with superb props and examples of live stage supports for theater. In itself, that recommends the film for viewing by those who might yearn for a theater career.
Outside of the stage performances within the film, the story is a little hard to follow. There are two or three subplots overlaid here. "The Boy Friend" is an amusing and fun musical romance that most should enjoy.