The Boy Friend

Sandy Wilson's original 1954 stage musical The Boy Friend was a pastiche inspired by frothy 1920s musicals about free and easy rich folks falling in love in exotic locations, and it marked Julie Andrews's Broadway debut. British filmmaker Ken Russell, who specialized in biographies of great composers and literary adaptations, brought this silly musical to the big screen in 1971, at a time when audiences were turning to more adult films. Russell's approach was to turn the story into a backstage musical centering on a struggling stage company in early 1930s England that puts on a show in a failing theater to a sparse audience. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, assistant stage manager Polly (supermodel Twiggy, who proves to be a fine singer and dancer in her screen debut) is shoved into the role and told to "come back a star!" Meanwhile, the cast members constantly upstage and sabotage one another to attract the attention of a film director in the audience. Russell spoofs almost every convention of classic stage and movie musicals, including the distinctive kaleidoscopic choreography of Busby Berkeley's lavish 1930s films. The result is a mishmash of styles and sensibilities, often veering between good-natured spoof and campy parody. But while many of the production numbers are dazzling, the non-musical scenes are drab and tend to drag on. The film was originally cut for American release, but has been restored and remastered for this Blu-ray edition, which also features a vintage behind-the-scenes featurette. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)