The Boy Friend, directed by Ken Russell and starring famous 60s model Twiggy, is usually considered by critics to be right up there with The Great Gatsby as one of the most iconic 70s-does-20s period movies. Yet it isn’t nearly as well known, and until recently has been impossible to get on DVD. Luckily, the good old BBC showed the film last month so I was able to see what all the fuss (or lack thereof) was about.
First things first, if you love extravagant costumes, you should absolutely watch this film. The creative costuming was by far the most exciting part of the movie, with Greek maidens, dancing dice, elves, sequinned showgirls, starfish, and some lovely 20s and 30s style gowns. The sets were also fantastical and a fitting homage to the Busby Berkely films of the 1930s.
The rest of the film I feel divided on – the music was nice though not incredible, and although it heavily referenced musicals of the 30s, it was missing the light-hearted exuberance that is their trademark. In particular the at-times-nonsensical ‘dream sequences’ left you in no doubt that this was a movie of the psychedelic era rather than the determinedly optimistic 1930s. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing; one of the interesting elements of the film was the mixture of 60s and 70s aesthetics with those of earlier eras. This really showcased how different generations become interested in ‘vintage’, and you can see clearly why 30s-referencing labels such as Biba became so popular when films like this were being shown in cinemas.
You can now buy The Boy Friend on Amazon, though it seems to need to be imported direct from Warner. It gets better though – you know I am always good to you, so I have also managed to find it on You Tube, where you can watch it in sections for free. It is, however, a shorter version which was released for the US market, so you’ll be missing out on a few of the dance numbers.
Watch The Boyfriend on You Tube
The Boy Friend official film preview on You Tube
1960s polka dot mod dress by Berketex
1970s green and red tartan knit jumper dress
1960s black and white check blanket dress
1970s floral print hippy smock dress by Emanuelle
I love The Boyfriend! Murray Melvin is great and as for the costumes…!xxx
I’ve never, ever heard of this, but you definitely have me intrigued. I may have to check it out, when I’m feeling in a mood for something slightly dreamlike… Thanks for locating it on You Tube.