The Boys in the Band

Based on Matt Crowley's play of the same name, THE BOYS IN THE BAND is a hilarious farce that focuses on the personal mores and identity politics of a group of gay friends at a private birthday party in Manhattan. Released one year after Federico Fellini's SATYRICON, BOYS reflects director William Friedkin's youthful admiration of the personal European films many American directors were emulating at the time. Michael (Kenneth Nelson) is throwing a birthday party for his scathingly self- deprecating friend Harold (Leonard Frey), and the exclusive circle of friends invited are all gay men, all of whom suffer some form of the identity crises imposed by an intolerant society that requires complicit suppression. Director: William Friedkin Star: Frederick Combs, Leonard Frey, Cliff Gorman, Kenneth Nelson, Maud Adams, Special Features: Audio: Dolby Digital (unspecified) English Subtitles - English Additional Release Materials: Audio Commentary - William Friedkin - Director Featurettes - 1. ACT ONE: The Play 2. ACT TWO: The Film 3. ACT THREE: 40 Years of "Boys in the Band" Running Time: 119 minutes