Making the Boys [HD]

Beloved Or Reviled: A New Documentary Showcases The Undeniable Historical Relevance And Impact Of These Boys
In watching Crayton Robey's entertaining and incisive documentary "Making the Boys," I was struck and disappointed by the lack of history that many contemporary youths have about the struggles that preceded them. The play and subsequent film version of Mart Crowley's classic "The Boys In The Band" is a genuine milestone in the representation of homosexual characters being pushed into mainstream awareness. The play, in 1968, was embraced by New York audiences and dealt specifically with a counterculture that had yet to express its voice. By the time the film version hit the streets, however, the Stonewall riots had occurred, the movement of open rebellion had begun, and the screen adaptation was largely vilified. "The Boys In The Band," don't get me wrong, has always been controversial. Yes, it is groundbreaking that the piece dealt specifically with homosexual issues. But it does represent negative stereotypes, bad behavior, and self-loathing as well. So should it be loved or...

The Vindication of a Ground-Breaking Work
In my Amazon review of the film, "The Boys in the Band" I noted that the work has always been highly controversial among gay men and that there are just as many people who praise it for its honesty, humor and status as a ground-breaking film, as there are people who condemn it for its stereotypes and self-hating negative images. In that review, I attempted to explain the many reasons why I believe the play and the film were important developments in the history of gay culture. As most people know by now, The Boys in the Band is about eight gay men at a birthday party who are joined by an unexpected straight guest.

Now there is a documentary, produced and directed by Crayton Robey, called "Making The Boys - The Story Behind The Boys in the Band" which chronicles the complete history of the play and film and their impact on modern gay literature and the gay movement.

Mart Crowley, the playwright, began his career with no money, but many important connections...

OK young gay folks, learn your gay history!
This is an excellent documentary. Not only does it tell a thorough story about "Boys in the Band", but it also gives a beief history of being gay in the U.S. for the past 50 years. I was saddened by the interviews with the young gay people today that showed they have no knowledge of "Boys in the Band", or any concept of the hard fought battles with authorities and with legislators, or the hurt,pain,suffering,anguish,and even death that was endured to get them the freedom that they all seem to take for granted today. Mart Crowley is a fascinating person. His stories about schmoozing with the Hollywood in-crowd of the day are priceless. To say that "Boys in the Band" is meaningless because it's so dated is not fair criticism. "West Side Story" and "Bye Bye Birdie" are dated too, but they are still gems of entertainment. When the film of "Boys" finally came out (pun intended) on DVD, I watched it with a group of friends, after which we played a game. If the film was made today, who...

Click to Editorial Reviews