The Boys in the Band (1970) & (2020) Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Mart Crowley, & William Friedkin

06/26/22 • 67 min

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Book Vs. Movie: The Boys in the Band
The 1968 Play Vs. the 1970 & the 2020 Films
The Margos love the celebrate Pride Month and in the past, we have covered Fried Green Tomatoes, Love, Simon, and Call Me by Your Name among other titles. This time are covering a play that made a splash when it premiered off-Broadway in April 1968. The Mart Crowley story, The Boys in the Band, revolved around several gay men as they navigate life pre-Stonewall New York City. It went on to play over 1000 performances (always off-Broadway because that is how Edward Albee wanted it) and was first adapted into a film directed by William Friedkin.
Friedkin, who needed a hit at the time, hired the entire cast for the film and created a work that is remembered for being a milestone in queer cinema. Set in an apartment in Manhattan, a group of homosexual men gathers ostensibly to celebrate the birthday of one of their friends. Instead, the event becomes a tightly wound confrontation between the haves and have-nots. The beautiful and those that live a lie. It’s at times off-putting, verbose, profane, funny, and sad. The original (1970) cast lost many members to AIDS in the 80s & 90s which adds to the melancholy of a current viewing.
The 2020 Netflix version features an all-openly gay cast including Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, and Charlie Carver who play the same characters set in 1968 but with an updated script by Crowley and Ned Martel. It’s produced by Ryan Murphy, Martel, and director Joe Mantello.
Between the original play and the 2020 adaptation--which did we like more?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
The interesting life of writer Mart Crowley
Life in the homosexual community in 1968
The 1970 cast: Kenneth Nelson (Michael,) Leonard Frey (Harold,) Cliff Gorman (Emory,) Laurence Luckinbill (Hank,) Frederick Combs (Donald,) Keith Prentice (Larry,) Robert la Tourneaux (Cowboy Tex,) Reuben Greene (Bernard,) Peter White (Alan,) and Maud Adams as a model.
The 2020 cast: Jim Parsons (Michael,) Zachary Quinto (Harold,) Matt Bomer (Donald,) Andrew Rannells (Larry,) Charlie Carvery (Cowboy,) Robin de Jesus (Emory,) Brian Hutchinson (Alan,) Michael Benjamin Washington (Bernard,) and Tuc Watkins as Hank.
Clips used:
“Harold” arrives (1970)
The Boys in the Band trailer
Harold confronts Michael
Tuc calls Larry
Donald and Michael at the end
Music by Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts
.
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at [email protected]
Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com [email protected]
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine

Previous Episode

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Richard Kiel, & Ian Fleming

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Book Vs. Movie: The Spy Who Loved Me
The 1962 Novel Vs the 1977 James Bond Film
The Margos love a good spy novel and James Bond usually makes for a fun, exciting read. We found out that this novel, The Spy Who Loved Me, written very quickly by Ian Fleming at his estate “Goldeneye” in January & February of 1961 turned out to be in the words of his biographer Andrew Lycett, his “most sleazy and most violent story ever.” It was so bad that Fleming received the worst reviews of his career and he tried to eradicate it from his list of work.
The story is at first told in the first person by the character Vivian Michel, a woman who has it ROUGH in this story until James Bond comes to save her. We will get into the tawdry details in the show and then gladly move on to the 1977 film adaptation starring Roger Moore as our Bond. Much of the book was left out of the screenplay and the character of “Jaws” was an evil highlight. The theme song by Carly Simon was written by Marvin Hamlish and Carol Bayer Sager.
So between the two, which did we like more? The novel or the movie? (Big hint--not even close here!)
This episode is sponsored by Kensington Books and Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti
“Zanetti is a master of romantic suspense.” –Kirkus Reviews
Run: Gemma Falls never expected to use her game theory expertise to outrun a killer. But for years, that skill is all that kept her one step ahead of a deadly stalker. When Gemma gets the chance to teach at D.C. University, she hopes she and her young daughter have found a safe harbor. The only flaw is the arrogant philosophy professor who’s always underfoot giving unwanted advice—in his sexy British accent . . .
Hide: Jethro Hanson has blood on his hands. He’s working within ivy-covered university halls now, but he knows that his work with the Deep Ops team and the deadly acts he once committed for the sake of Queen and country place him beyond forgiveness—until he meets Gemma . . .
Seek: Soon, the passion between them stuns them both. But when Jethro discovers a threat is fast overtaking her, he must choose between the redemption he seeks—and releasing the ever-present killer inside . . .
Rebecca Zanetti has published over 50 books and has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Woman’s Day magazines.
She has ridden in a locked Chevy truck, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to unlock her handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mines to hide a human body! You can find her at www.RebeccaZanetti.com & on social media @RebecaaZanetti.
In this ep the Margos discuss:
The extraordinary life of Ian Fleming
The history of James Bond films
The biggest differences between the book and the movie
Carly Simon’s amazing theme song
The cast: Roger Moore (James Bond/007,) Barbara Bach (Anya Amasova/XXX,) Curt Jurgens (Karl Stromberg,) Richard Kiel (Jaws,) Caroline Munro (Namoi,) Geoffrey Keen (Sir Frederick Gray,) Edward de Souza (Shiekh Hosein,) George Baker (Captain Benson,) Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny,) Walter Gotell (General Gogol,) Vernon Dobtcheff as Max Kalba,) Desmond Llewelyn (Q,) and Bernard Lee as M.
Clips used:
Introduction of James Bond
The Spy Who Loved Me trailer
Bond fights with Jaws
007 and XXX in the submarine scene
Stromberg reveals his plans
Bond kills Stromberg
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts
.
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at [email protected]
Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com [email protected]
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine

Next Episode

National Lampoon Vacation (1983) Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, John Hughes, & Harold Ramis

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Book Vs. Movie: National Lampoon’s Vacation
The 1979 Short Story by John Hughes vs the 1983 Chevy Chase Movie
The Margos are celebrating summer with a look at one of the most popular “family” vacation movies ever filmed--National Lampoon’s Vacation. Directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, the film is remembered as a classic comedy but due to the National Lampoon magazine influence (we get into THAT history here!) It features crude, blue humor that was normalized by the magazine in the 1970s and is based on a John Hughes short story Vacation ‘58.
John Hughes would go on to be THE John Hughes of teen comedies (Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles) and adult “dramedies” (Planes, Trains, and Automobiles & She’s Having a Baby) but at the time of this short story publication (Summer 1979), he was a young adman/copywriter who wanted to break into films. His story revolves around a family taking a road trip to California from Illinois in a station wagon. It’s funny and profane with many of the elements we would see in the adaptation.
Harold Ramis directed the film on a tiny budget and made the father versus the son the protagonist. It is known today for its weird sense of humor, Christie Brinkley in a red Ferrari and one the best theme songs ever written (Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham.) Also, racism, incest, animal & elder abuse, masturbation, and Randy Quaid. This one is a real hodge podge of everything 80s in the best and worst possible way.
So, between the original story and the 1983 adaptation--which did we like more?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
The incredible (and very short) life of John Hughes
The impact of National Lampoon on comedy in the 70s and 80s
The cast: Chevy Chase (Clark Griswold,) Beverly D'Angelo (Ellen Griswold,) Anthony Michael Hall (Rusty,) Dana Barron (Audrey,) Imogene Coca (Aunt Edna,) Randy Quaid (Eddie Johnson,) John Candy (Russ Lasky,) Christie Brinkley (Girl in the Bikini,) Eugene Levy (Ed, the car salesman,) and Jane Krakowski (Cousin Vicki.)
Clips used:
Clark gets the car
National Lampoon’s Vacation trailer
Randy Quaid BBQ
Car crash scene
John Candy Walley World
Music by Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts
.
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at [email protected]
Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com [email protected]
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine