tcm - boys in the band

[peanut2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 12:25am

anyone see it last night - about 3 am? Wow! I had not seen the play Or THE MOVIE FOR 30-35 YEARS! Brought back memories...
and I'm a straight woman (doesn't mean anything), except I LOVE that play. Still holds up for me. So much humanity, no matter who you are....

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 12:33am

I saw it and "Staircase" right before it. That one was strange but I've always wanted to see it.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 12:41am

Yup. TCM not only presented it in it's complete uncut uncensored form but also (FINALLY!) in widescreen. Tivoed it so I will be putting this on DVD as this has yet to be released on DVD. Alas, so it isn't anamorphic widescreen, but it's widescreen no less.

Whoo-hoo! I was pleased to see TCM honored the film by not censoring it -- the language is quite spicy, especially for a film from 1970.

[peanut2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:08am

yes, it was quite thrilling....i had forgotten that Friedkin had directed. I believe this was before "French Connection".
It's also disturbing that most of that cast has died since....

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:14am

TCM *never* censors their movies--they'v ebeen showing some pretty out there stuff on their ROb Zombie hosted cult movies program too

William Friedkin really made a great film adaptation (before he became famous for French Connection and Exorcist). The playwright picked him and actually took him out to a few gay bars (Friedkin said he got picked up and almost went for it for "artistic research" lol) - he picked Friedkin cuz he was such a fan of Friedkin's underated film of Pinter's The Birthday Party--I believe both films still aren't on DVD which is beyond shocking

Boys in the Band oddly shows up in Canada on CBC's midnigth movie a *lot*--uncensored as well (but not widescreen--though you don't miss too much without letterboxing). WOuld be kinda cool of Friedkin shot--maybe for cable--the sequel play to Boys in the Band...

Pretty depressing how many of the lead actors on it are no longer with us

E (dont' get me started on Staircase )

[Effie]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 2:07am

I couldn't finish Staircase. I immediately deleted it from the Tivo, but now feel I might have been too hasty. Did it get better as it went along?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 4:46am

I missed it and haven't seen it in years--I meant to tape it again. I think it's mainly useful for camp value really and historical sake--you didn't miss much

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 9:06am

I have BITB on (of all things!) laser disc in widescreen format, as well as the two-disc OCA from the Broadway production. They;re both so "oh dear" bad, but, like any good train wreck, you just cant avert your eyes (or ears).

[ben4]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 10:56am

I watched a little of it and turned it off. It was a combination of it being really late and also the fact that a lot of the characters seemed more like caricatures of what people thought of gays in the 1960's (Vain, prissy, self serving).

It's interesting that Friedkin also made the completely terrible "Cruising" later on in his career. It also dealt with the idea of a straight guy entering a gay man's world (Although in a very trashy and exploitative manner).

Did anyone happen to catch "Victim" later on that night... or should I say morning? That was really quite engrossing and apparently it was the first film to ever use the word "homosexual."

[MickeyCT]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 11:09am

Sean, I have that OCA as well... forgot it was even in my collection until you mentioned it.

I like the play and the film for what it is. I've directed the stage version before and it's quite an emotional work-out. I remember seeing the 1996 WPA revival and enjoying that as well. It's definitely either a show you love or hate, I think.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 11:26am

SeanMartin...recheck your laserdisc -- it is not widescreen. I also have the film on laserdisc and it's full-screen. It's one of the early FOX laserdisc titles which was never eventually reissued in widescreen, unfortunately.


Full Specs on the sole laserdisc issue of the film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065488/laserdisc


Updated On: 6/27/07 at 11:26 AM

[ben4]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 11:28am

People still own laserdiscs?

I mean where do you put them? They're like bigger than your own head.