"Boys in the Band," the film version, is 50
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 6:00PM 
We've talked before about how instrumental legendary movie star Natalie Wood was in getting the groundbreaking gay play Boys in the Band made. It was such a hit off Broadway in the spring of 1968 that it a film version was in theaters two springs later; The film version premiered 50 years ago on this very day...
If you haven't seen it it takes place at Harold's 32nd birthday party. 32 means that he's "aging" and none-too-pleased about it but 50 years on 32 doesn't feel like all that old, does it? People are "young" for much longer, aren't they? Though we didn't see the recent revival we wondered if they upped the age at all.
Ryan Murphy and team filmed the cast of the recent stage revival so we'll get another version of this seminal property later this year on Netflix.
Reader Comments (12)
The cast is perfect
the revival was still set in 1968 so i doubt they would have fudged the age thing
rip mart crowley - so glad he got to see the show on broadway before he left us
harold frey, who played caustic harold, would one year later be the sweet tailor motel in 'fiddler on the roof' - that always amazes me
I loathe BOYS IN THE BAND. It's a collection of nasty cliches and stereotypes. Straight audiences loved it because it told them that all their worst ideas about gay men were true, and gay men were so desperate to see any sort of representation of our lives that we forced ourselves to overlook how grotesque and offensive that representation was.
Keith, well-stated. I (and most everyone I know) could not stand it. Self-hatred galore in the piece. Ugh!
Ryan Murphy? Ugh.... that guy is an asshole.
Holds up better thant I expected which is kind of sad. Highly recommend it.
I would have nominated Frey.
Par, Leonard Frey, not Harold Frey, played Harold.
I wish I liked the film more but there is no disputing that it made a positive difference at the time of its release.
I'll watch the new version because of the cast but if it's a scene for scene redo with only the stage setting the only change I don't hold out much hope for a great experience.
Ironically, most folks i've found who hated or were uncomfortable with the movie were out gays who thought they could ass as straight, 'unaware of just how queeny they come off to the rest of the world.
I saw this movie for the first time last year and, while it’s clearly not the best in terms of representation, it was a valuable viewing experience for me as a film lover interested in not only the progression of that representation, but in the filmography of its director as well. I actually liked more about it than I expected to, though it’s clearly an artifact frozen in its time.
I don't consider the material problematic. Gay torture isn't always straight disapproval or violent opposition. Other gay people can be death. Will drag you then isolate you. No real community when everyone is a whore.
For a sadly sizeable subset of gays you are right Three Artful.