The Boy Friend (1971)

A small theatre in England is running a musical play and one night a Hollywood director comes to watch it. The assistant stage manager must fill in for the star who broke a leg. The play's plot concerns a bunch of college girls who are preparing for an upcoming Carnival ball.

Pastiche of 1930s musicals, based on a stage production which premiered in 1954. The lavish sets and costumes in gaudy colors are possibly the main attraction, and obviously provide a sensual experience which was absent from the cultural products herein aped. The music and lyrics are also remarkable for their precise imitation of 1920s and 1930s mannerisms. Overall it's quite agreeable.

Rating: 59