All the actors in this movie were so brave. What a statement to make in 1970. They would have known it could have been career suicide, and did it anyway. I hope they are all Resting In Peace. If only they could have lived in today's world.
I wrote to the author Mart Crowley who was kind enough to hand write a 4 page letter confiding in and thanking me. I was 16 and knew every line in this play/movie by heart.
As a gay man, I feel the film was a ground breaker despite some stereotypical portrayals. It took a lot of honor and courage for these actors to do this movie in 1970. I saw it c. 1978 in Cinema Village in Manhattan. I salute the actors, they deserve the highest praise.
Yeah, I love both versions, but the original 1970 film definitely has so much more to it - as you’ve said, it was filmed and released at the time of Stonewall, but I think also how not all of the men were gay in real-life and they still played their characters and made this film what it is. But also how Cliff Gorman (Emory) and his wife cared for Robert La Tourneaux who played Cowboy when he had AIDS. This film I think is the first of many milestones that have brought the world and society forward into today. I just wish that all of them could see how the world has changed and LGBTQIA+
Better to think of it as the 60’s version. The play premiered before Stonewall, the movie was filmed in 69, and is soundly a relic of 60’s gay culture. For 70’s gay culture, watch the documentary “Gay Sex in the 70’s”. Totally different environment and aesthetic.
I think that part of the reason why Alan was so happy to meet Hank was that he didn't look like a Stereotypical Gay Guy. I know deep in my heart that Alan would have loved to have had Hank over for Dinner the way Sal Romano had Ken Cosgrove the Ad Executive at Dinner on Mad Men.
Yes. They all did a great job. I remember watching the "Original" Version one Late Night in the 1980's. and when Harold came in, you knew it was going to go down.
I’ve always thought about this but never saw it. Over the weekend I watched the Netflix one and it was so good. I have to see this one now. How ahead if it’s time was this? 1970. So wonderful.
In reality it was done way Off Broadway in 1968 but then they moved it to a Movie. Looking back this Movie must have made so may Guys feel less guilty about who they were. I remember hearing stories that Patricia Highsmith (The Price Of Salt/Carol) as well as Ann Bannon (Odd Girl Out) got Letters from Women "thanking" them for making themselves feel less guilty about who they are.
Melanie Brandt, the 1970 version is incredible; multiple things make it better (to me) than the 2020 version - the lighting is harder, more dramatic; the set for the aptmt is tighter & more claustrophobic; Larry's body is "beefier", & his brows are deeper; Alan is taller, bigger, & totally straight-looking; Hank LOOKS like a strait-laced teacher; Emory's performance is FEARless as the queen; Harold too, was tall, but not lean; Bernard was totally masculine-presenting; Cowboy was beefy & muscular; there was a lot of physical difference between the bodies & heights of Alan, Hank, Donald, Larry, Cowboy, Emory, Bernard, & Michael, it helped as a kind of shorthand, along with the use of single colors in the wardrobe - red (Bernard), gray (Hank), blue (Larry), black tux (Alan), purple sweater (Michael), tan (Emory), lt green shirt (Donald), denim shirt (Cowboy), dk green velvet blazer (Harold) - to let everyone stand out visually in a tight set. The 1968 play & 1970 movie are NOT😁 a "feel good, pride-affirming piece of work", they're an affecting, hard-to-watch roller-coaster ride that flies off the rails - tough to watch & affecting, but can't take your eyes off of it. In comparison, the casting of the 2018 play/2020 movie feels like "stunt casting" (Hey!!😁 - They're all gay!! Fantastic!!). You don't notice until you watch the same clips from both movies; I own the 1970 version on dvd, & was going to buy the 2020 version also, but now, no..
@@raynaudier8622 I've just finished watching the 2020 version and really enjoyed it. I really wanna watch the original if I can get my hands on it. From what I've seen though I think Michael has the biggest difference between versions. He's alot more of a stronger presence in the original and you can see a slightly more serious person underneath whereas he seems less intimidating in the remake which makes his dark turn maybe slightly more out of place. However, I think the performance of Harold is unmatched in the original, every line is spoken with such purpose and he is just fascinating to watch even when there's no dialogue, that final speech is perfect too.
I remember first hearing "Heatwave" in Carrie then seeing The TV Special Ready Steady Go on VHS from 1965 that was Hosted by Dusty Springfield and featured Martha & The Vandellas, The Supremes, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder and The "Original" Temptations Lineup. What a legacy to have.
Also Peter White & Laurence Luckinbill both did Soaps. Laurence did Search For Tomorrow and Peter did All My Children. Also William Christian played who played Derek Frye played Bernard in an Off Broadway Production.
1:50 "Excuse me, that's Emory". If you are trying to hide the fact that you are gay from your (supposedly) straight friend then perhaps pointing out the most effeminate member of the group may not be such a slick move.
@@NoName-vq3zo Alan was very nervous and felt embarrassed for crashing their party even though he was told he wasn't invited. Also "Heatwave" would have been a great mashup to "The Real Thing" by Tina Britt or Twistin The Night Away by Sam Cooke
I Always shipped alan with Michael. Always thought they would be together like in my head alan Wanted tô see him to tell he was leaving Fran for him, but i understand the story is different
Nah Alan was a mess and needed to figure his life out on his own. Michael had his own major issues to deal with too. Donald however would have made a great partner for Michael. The way he supports Michael at the end was incredibly patient, supporting and love. He's who I wish/hope he ended up with.
@@DiffrentDrumr Thanks Boo! Here's another fun discovery. Martha & The Vandellas did the First "Interracial Duet" with The Late Dusty Springfield on Ready Steady Go The Sounds Of Motown back in 1965. Besides being The Queen Of Blue Eyed Soul, there was a rumour that she and Martha had a "Fling". I was born in 1966 so it was a bit before my time. I first heard this Song when I saw Carrie with Sissy Spacek.
@@scottiejerwinabejuela4973 Here's another fun fact. They used The Music of Burt Bacharach/Hal David (RIP) twice as well. In the "original" they played The Instrumental Version of The Look Of Love by Dusty Springfield (RIP) and then in the "Remake" they played "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alpert whose Label A & M had The Carpenters and Janet Jackson on The Label.
"We were just acting silly!"
The defense mechanisms, the excuses, the panic... what it was like to be gay in a straight world in 1968.
All the actors in this movie were so brave. What a statement to make in 1970. They would have known it could have been career suicide, and did it anyway. I hope they are all Resting In Peace. If only they could have lived in today's world.
It was career suicide. Robert La Tourneaux ended up doing porn to support himself. Very likely he contracted HIV on set. He died of AIDS in 1986.
4 are still living to see what a difference they made and I bet the 5 that are passed on notice too
R.I.P. Peter White
@@PaulTestaEnjoyed him for so many years on AMC. Linc and Kitty what a story. I’m so happy he lived a long life. RIP
@jess4metoo
Just caught him on an episode of "Falcon Crest."
I wrote to the author Mart Crowley who was kind enough to hand write a 4 page letter confiding in and thanking me. I was 16 and knew every line in this play/movie by heart.
wow what a great story....I was about 16 when I saw the film for the first time at a first run movie palace in Times Sq. NYC
As a gay man, I feel the film was a ground breaker despite some stereotypical portrayals. It took a lot of honor and courage for these actors to do this movie in 1970. I saw it c. 1978 in Cinema Village in Manhattan. I salute the actors, they deserve the highest praise.
Excellent acting and strong performances. Do love the Heat Wave dance segment.
Love the Heat Wave dance scene in both the original and the remake.
My favorite part in the original
@@salemstales Mine too. 💚💛❤️🎵🎶
@@salemstales Me also!
there's just something special about the original
Both version are good. But the 70s has something special
Yes, it really showed that although they had fun it was still a very challenging time since it was after Stonewall.
Yeah, I love both versions, but the original 1970 film definitely has so much more to it - as you’ve said, it was filmed and released at the time of Stonewall, but I think also how not all of the men were gay in real-life and they still played their characters and made this film what it is. But also how Cliff Gorman (Emory) and his wife cared for Robert La Tourneaux who played Cowboy when he had AIDS.
This film I think is the first of many milestones that have brought the world and society forward into today. I just wish that all of them could see how the world has changed and LGBTQIA+
Better to think of it as the 60’s version. The play premiered before Stonewall, the movie was filmed in 69, and is soundly a relic of 60’s gay culture. For 70’s gay culture, watch the documentary “Gay Sex in the 70’s”. Totally different environment and aesthetic.
The 1970 version is far superior.
@@65wisemantotally agree with you
My god!! I swear, if someone told me the 70s Alan and Hank were played by Brian Hutchison and Tuc Watkins' fathers I would believe them.
Great film with a fantastic cast.
I think that part of the reason why Alan was so happy to meet Hank was that he didn't look like a Stereotypical Gay Guy. I know deep in my heart that Alan would have loved to have had Hank over for Dinner the way Sal Romano had Ken Cosgrove the Ad Executive at Dinner on Mad Men.
Saw the original “Boys in the Band”. Heartbreaking and excellent. Harold and Emory were standout performances.
Yes. They all did a great job. I remember watching the "Original" Version one Late Night in the 1980's. and when Harold came in, you knew it was going to go down.
How did you see The "Original" please. Did you get the DVD?
Same with me. ✌🙏⭐💛
@@laminage. It was just on TV. A remarkable and beautifully written play.
@@josephfroude6056 A Masterpiece a d Classic
I’ve always thought about this but never saw it. Over the weekend I watched the Netflix one and it was so good. I have to see this one now. How ahead if it’s time was this? 1970. So wonderful.
In reality it was done way Off Broadway in 1968 but then they moved it to a Movie. Looking back this Movie must have made so may Guys feel less guilty about who they were. I remember hearing stories that Patricia Highsmith (The Price Of Salt/Carol) as well as Ann Bannon (Odd Girl Out) got Letters from Women "thanking" them for making themselves feel less guilty about who they are.
Ikr. Imagine this coming out in 70s like witg all the repression and the hate crimes. I mean they were amazing
Melanie Brandt, the 1970 version is incredible; multiple things make it better (to me) than the 2020 version - the lighting is harder, more dramatic; the set for the aptmt is tighter & more claustrophobic; Larry's body is "beefier", & his brows are deeper; Alan is taller, bigger, & totally straight-looking; Hank LOOKS like a strait-laced teacher; Emory's performance is FEARless as the queen; Harold too, was tall, but not lean; Bernard was totally masculine-presenting; Cowboy was beefy & muscular; there was a lot of physical difference between the bodies & heights of Alan, Hank, Donald, Larry, Cowboy, Emory, Bernard, & Michael, it helped as a kind of shorthand, along with the use of single colors in the wardrobe - red (Bernard), gray (Hank), blue (Larry), black tux (Alan), purple sweater (Michael), tan (Emory), lt green shirt (Donald), denim shirt (Cowboy), dk green velvet blazer (Harold) - to let everyone stand out visually in a tight set. The 1968 play & 1970 movie are NOT😁 a "feel good, pride-affirming piece of work", they're an affecting, hard-to-watch roller-coaster ride that flies off the rails - tough to watch & affecting, but can't take your eyes off of it. In comparison, the casting of the 2018 play/2020 movie feels like "stunt casting" (Hey!!😁 - They're all gay!! Fantastic!!). You don't notice until you watch the same clips from both movies; I own the 1970 version on dvd, & was going to buy the 2020 version also, but now, no..
@@raynaudier8622 I've just finished watching the 2020 version and really enjoyed it. I really wanna watch the original if I can get my hands on it. From what I've seen though I think Michael has the biggest difference between versions. He's alot more of a stronger presence in the original and you can see a slightly more serious person underneath whereas he seems less intimidating in the remake which makes his dark turn maybe slightly more out of place. However, I think the performance of Harold is unmatched in the original, every line is spoken with such purpose and he is just fascinating to watch even when there's no dialogue, that final speech is perfect too.
@@raynaudier8622your observation surmises what's in my head when i compared both versions. Thank you!
The look on Michael's face when he sees Allen.
I remember first hearing "Heatwave" in Carrie then seeing The TV Special Ready Steady Go on VHS from 1965 that was Hosted by Dusty Springfield and featured Martha & The Vandellas, The Supremes, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder and The "Original" Temptations Lineup. What a legacy to have.
Also Peter White & Laurence Luckinbill both did Soaps. Laurence did Search For Tomorrow and Peter did All My Children. Also William Christian played who played Derek Frye played Bernard in an Off Broadway Production.
This is one of my favorite scenes in the history of cinema. It brings me pure joy. ❤
R.I.P. Peter White
1:50 "Excuse me, that's Emory". If you are trying to hide the fact that you are gay from your (supposedly) straight friend then perhaps pointing out the most effeminate member of the group may not be such a slick move.
My favorite scene in the movie!
Also if you look very carefully Keith Prentice (Larry) Hairline move. One minute it's waved back the next minute part of it is on his forehead.
A good deal of this movie was supposedly filmed in Broadway actress Tammy Grimes' apartment.
Saw this film at the , Drive -In....small town Ohio...with a Varsity football player....we would have suffered severe consequences...in 1970..
Thank you..... True Classic.
Did you see how Larry looked at Emory as Alan was talking. It was like he was saying "Can You Believe This Fool".
Fool for thinking with internalized shame and homophobia that he needs to "butch" it up and be someone else he is not...? No, not really!
@@NoName-vq3zo Alan was very nervous and felt embarrassed for crashing their party even though he was told he wasn't invited. Also "Heatwave" would have been a great mashup to "The Real Thing" by Tina Britt or Twistin The Night Away by Sam Cooke
I wanted to deck Alan several times. He arrived and everything went to hell!
geriatric rocketts. when I first saw this film I was a good deal younger , now I'm a good deal older.
I Always shipped alan with Michael. Always thought they would be together like in my head alan Wanted tô see him to tell he was leaving Fran for him, but i understand the story is different
Nah Alan was a mess and needed to figure his life out on his own. Michael had his own major issues to deal with too. Donald however would have made a great partner for Michael. The way he supports Michael at the end was incredibly patient, supporting and love. He's who I wish/hope he ended up with.
For any of you who saw the Remake did they use the "Authentic" Version of Heatwave. It didn't sound like it.
Yes, it was the original by Martha and the Vandellas
@@DiffrentDrumr Thanks Boo! Here's another fun discovery. Martha & The Vandellas did the First "Interracial Duet" with The Late Dusty Springfield on Ready Steady Go The Sounds Of Motown back in 1965. Besides being The Queen Of Blue Eyed Soul, there was a rumour that she and Martha had a "Fling". I was born in 1966 so it was a bit before my time. I first heard this Song when I saw Carrie with Sissy Spacek.
It's the original version.
@@scottiejerwinabejuela4973 Here's another fun fact. They used The Music of Burt Bacharach/Hal David (RIP) twice as well. In the "original" they played The Instrumental Version of The Look Of Love by Dusty Springfield (RIP) and then in the "Remake" they played "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alpert whose Label A & M had The Carpenters and Janet Jackson on The Label.
@@laminage 🤯🤯🤯