The Boys In The Band

Synopsis:

A witty, perceptive and devastating look at the personal agendas and suppressed revelations swirling among a group of gay men in Manhattan. Harold is celebrating a birthday, and his friend Michael has drafted some other friends to help commemorate the event. As the evening progresses, the alcohol flows, the knives come out, and Michael’s demand that the group participate in a devious telephone game, unleashing dormant and unspoken emotions.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve got a confession to make: I’ve only recently seen “The Boys in the Band” – shocking, I know! This queer drama film is actually an adaptation of the groundbreaking stage play of the same name by Mart Crowley. After a successful run of the play, it quickly was filmed with the original cast of the play and continued reaching more viewers. Critics viewed both favorably, however it received mixed reviews among the queer community. While the play and subsequent film depicted homosexual life rather well for the time period, many also couldn’t look past the jaded, self-loathing, and self-deprecating stereotypes on display. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite a fan. Sure, this queer drama captures a pre-liberation snapshot of the homosexual lifestyle. This is why while I strongly encourage every queer person to watch “The Boys in the Band”, I advise that you keep in mind that this queer drama film remains stuck in the past.