Boy Friend (1961 film)

Boy Friend is a 1961 British musical film directed by Ken Russell. It is based on the 1953 stage musical The Boy Friend by Sandy Wilson. The film marked Russell's feature film directorial debut, although he had previously worked on television documentaries.

The film is a tongue-in-cheek adaptation of Wilson's stage show, maintaining the original's lighthearted and parodic approach to 1920s musical theatre conventions. It follows a touring company of actors putting on a production of "The Boy Friend" in a small seaside town. As the performance unfolds, the lives of the cast members both on and off stage intertwine, creating humorous situations and romantic entanglements.

The cast includes Anne Wakefield as Polly Browne, the leading lady, and James Smilie as Tony Brockhurst, her romantic interest. Other notable cast members include Avril Gentles, Bryan Johnson, and Robert Lee.

Boy Friend received mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics praised Russell's innovative direction and the film's energy, while others found it to be overly stylized and lacking in substance. The film's score features the original songs from the stage musical, known for their catchy melodies and witty lyrics. Although not a major commercial success, Boy Friend is significant as an early example of Ken Russell's distinctive and often controversial filmmaking style, foreshadowing his later, more flamboyant works.