Rating: Summary: Great coming of age comedy that you'll watch over and over! Review: This is what I call a "comfort" movie, one you can watch over and over and still enjoy. Tells the story of 2 teenaged girls - Val, a piano prodigy neglected by her wealthy globe trotting parents, and Gil, a lonely girl being raised by her single Mom and her mom's best friend. The two girls meet at school and become best friends. Val develops a crush on Henry Orient (Peter Sellers) a terrible pianist with a habit of chasing married women. Val and Gil dedicate their lives to the study of Henry Orient and follow him all over New York City, with hilarious results. Great performances from the two young girls as well as from Peter Sellers and Angela Lansbury, who plays Val's mother. If you know a pre-teen or older girl, she would love a copy of this video! A TRULY SATISFYING FILM.
Rating: Summary: Great coming of age comedy that you'll watch over and over! Review: This is what I call a "comfort" movie, one you can watch over and over and still enjoy. Tells the story of 2 teenaged girls - Val, a piano prodigy neglected by her wealthy globe trotting parents, and Gil, a lonely girl being raised by her single Mom and her mom's best friend. The two girls meet at school and become best friends. Val develops a crush on Henry Orient (Peter Sellers) a terrible pianist with a habit of chasing married women. Val and Gil dedicate their lives to the study of Henry Orient and follow him all over New York City, with hilarious results. Great performances from the two young girls as well as from Peter Sellers and Angela Lansbury, who plays Val's mother. If you know a pre-teen or older girl, she would love a copy of this video! A TRULY SATISFYING FILM.
Rating: Summary: Two nice girls Review: Two nice girls"The World of Henry Orient" holds a very special place in my heart. It reminds me of myself and my friends when we were in school, in the early '70s. We're still friends, by the way! Secondly, it was filmed in New York City, where we went to school. "Henry Orient" is one of those special films about kids "coming of age" that treads a very fine line, where one false situation or characterization or line of dialogue could easily sink it into maudlin sappiness, which, thank goodness, it never does. Two New York City schoolgirls, one from a happy, middle-class single parent home, the other from a wealthy but unhappy home, meet, become friends, and through a series of coincidences, cross paths with Henry Orient, a mediocre concert pianist who is something of a Don Juan. The girls begin to fan-worship Henry, wearing coolie hats, talking "Orient speak", and the usual adolescent mishigas that most of us go through. Their antics eventually lead to misadventures, and a fateful meeting between the rich girl's mother and Henry that leads to adultery, an imminent divorce, and a bonding between the girl and her father, who had been absent for most of her young life. Nora Johnson wrote the screenplay for "Henry Orient", which she adapted from her book, and did an admirable job. She has a great understanding of teenage girls (well, she was one once!), and the girls' dialogue is particularly memorable and genuine. The cast is great. Peter Sellers plays Henry as a second-rate Lothario, whose "Continental" accent occasionally slips away, revealing his original, heavy Brooklynese accent, a sort of Pepe lePew by way of Bensonhurst. 'Tippy' Walker as rich girl Valerie Boyd and Merrie Spaeth as Marian Gilbert are charming, talented girls. They are the stars of film. I always felt like I knew them. Perennial "kooky" actress Paula Prentiss is her usual funny self as Stella Dunnworthy, a married nervous nellie who never consummates her would-be illicit affair with Henry. Phyllis Thaxter and the late Bibi Osterwald are likeable and warm as Marian's mom and her best friend, Boothy, and Tom Bosley is remarkably believable as Valerie's dad. Character actors Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis as a concerned shopowner, and John Fiedler as Henry's manager lend great support. And now, we come to the remarkable Angela Lansbury as Isabel Boyd, Valerie's promiscuous but not-too-lovable mother. For years I had convinced myself that I didn't like Angela Lansbury, based on how convincingly she played the cold-as-ice Isabel Boyd. This is the proof of a really talented actress. This was in the "monster mothers" phase of her career, along with her evil mother In "The Manchurian Candidate". What an amazing lady! I also must give credit where credit is due to Elmer Bernstein, for his sweet and heartbreaking musical score for this film. It is considered, along with his other great "kid" score for "To Kill a Mockingbird", one of his greatest. "The World of Henry Orient" is a very fond, nostalgic tribute to the innocence of youngsters, particularly girls, before imminent adulthood comes into their lives and shatters their youthful fantasies. It is also a fond reminder of a very different New York City, seen through rose-coloured glasses perhaps, but aren't nice memories like that anyway? The picture and sound quality on this DVD are great. I had never seen "Henry Orient" in widescreen, so this was a particular treat. The colors are rich and vibrant, the picture razor sharp. There is only one "extra" feature on the DVD, the original theatrical trailer, and there isn't a program inside the case, but for this price, who's complaining? This is Valerie Boyd and Marian Gilbert's world, and welcome to it!
Rating: Summary: Where's the Sound? Review: Two nice girls "The World of Henry Orient" holds a very special place in my heart. It reminds me of myself and my friends when we were in school, in the early `70s. We're still friends, by the way! Secondly, it was filmed in New York City, where we went to school. "Henry Orient" is one of those special films about kids "coming of age" that treads a very fine line, where one false situation or characterization or line of dialogue could easily sink it into maudlin sappiness, which, thank goodness, it never does. Two New York City schoolgirls, one from a happy, middle-class single parent home, the other from a wealthy but unhappy home, meet, become friends, and through a series of coincidences, cross paths with Henry Orient, a mediocre concert pianist who is something of a Don Juan. The girls begin to fan-worship Henry, wearing coolie hats, talking "Orient speak", and the usual adolescent mishigas that most of us go through. Their antics eventually lead to misadventures, and a fateful meeting between the rich girl's mother and Henry that leads to adultery, an imminent divorce, and a bonding between the girl and her father, who had been absent for most of her young life. Nora Johnson wrote the screenplay for "Henry Orient", which she adapted from her book, and did an admirable job. She has a great understanding of teenage girls (well, she was one once!), and the girls' dialogue is particularly memorable and genuine. The cast is great. Peter Sellers plays Henry as a second-rate Lothario, whose "Continental" accent occasionally slips away, revealing his original, heavy Brooklynese accent, a sort of Pepe lePew by way of Bensonhurst. `Tippy' Walker as rich girl Valerie Boyd and Merrie Spaeth as Marian Gilbert are charming, talented girls. They are the stars of film. I always felt like I knew them. Perennial "kooky" actress Paula Prentiss is her usual funny self as Stella Dunnworthy, a married nervous nellie who never consummates her would-be illicit affair with Henry. Phyllis Thaxter and the late Bibi Osterwald are likeable and warm as Marian's mom and her best friend, Boothy, and Tom Bosley is remarkably believable as Valerie's dad. Character actors Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis as a concerned shopowner, and John Fiedler as Henry's manager lend great support. And now, we come to the remarkable Angela Lansbury as Isabel Boyd, Valerie's promiscuous but not-too-lovable mother. For years I had convinced myself that I didn't like Angela Lansbury, based on how convincingly she played the cold-as-ice Isabel Boyd. This is the proof of a really talented actress. This was in the "monster mothers" phase of her career, along with her evil mother In "The Manchurian Candidate". What an amazing lady! I also must give credit where credit is due to Elmer Bernstein, for his sweet and heartbreaking musical score for this film. It is considered, along with his other great "kid" score for "To Kill a Mockingbird", one of his greatest. "The World of Henry Orient" is a very fond, nostalgic tribute to the innocence of youngsters, particularly girls, before imminent adulthood comes into their lives and shatters their youthful fantasies. It is also a fond reminder of a very different New York City, seen through rose-coloured glasses perhaps, but aren't nice memories like that anyway? The picture and sound quality on this DVD are great. I had never seen "Henry Orient" in widescreen, so this was a particular treat. The colors are rich and vibrant, the picture razor sharp. There is only one "extra" feature on the DVD, the original theatrical trailer, and there isn't a program inside the case, but for this price, who's complaining? This is Valerie Boyd and Marian Gilbert's world, and welcome to it!
Rating: Summary: very humerous yet moving Review: watching the two girls follow around the goofy Orient is truly hilarious...makes one feel young and full of mischief again...very moving also because of one of the girl's family problems and how they are resolved. a definite favorite of mine.
Rating: Summary: The World of Henry Orient Would Be Better With Sound Review: Well I saw Peter Sellers on the cover and figured I couldn't go wrong. I wasn't disappointed. `The World of Henry Orient' is a great film. Why? I don't really know. It has a unique blend of comedy, drama, and style.
The plot: In 1960s New York, two nymphets Val and Gil chase around world famous pianist Henry Orient (Sellers) causing all sorts of fun and trouble. There's really not much beyond that.
I was disappointed to find that one of my favorite films `Dick' was plagiarized from `Henry Orient.' You may remember `Dick' a few years ago about two nymphets, Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams, chasing around Dick Nixon, causing him so much trouble he is forced to resign. A great movie. But I find it grossly disgusting when a remake does not credit the original. As recently seen in `Three Kings' `The Manchurian Candidate' `Pearl Harbor.'
`Dick' is a better film and as you might guess from the title the sexual humor is far more.
I would also like to join the choir of WHERE IS THE SOUND? Yes `Henry Orient' is letterboxed but the sound is of very low quality. I really had to blast up the volume and even then it sounded like echoes.
If you loved `Dick' (ha ha ha ha) you'll love `Henry Orient' too. And if you haven't seen either, see both now!!!
Rating: Summary: Thw world of Henry Orient Review: When these two teenagers meet and form a friendship, you are taking on an entertaining and heartfelt journey. Valerie Boyd and Marian Gilbert(played by Tippy Walker and Merrie Spaeth, respectively) are two unlikely friends who share a zest for life. When the two girls come across the eccentric pianist Henry Orient, played by Peter Sellers, infatuation ensues. Thus begins the pursuit for the infamous Henry Orient. Henry Orient is a madly altruistic ladies man who has been trying to seduce a married woman, Stella (played by Paula Prentiss). Strange things are happening which cause him to believe her husband has found them out and that they are being spied upon. Little does he know that Val and Gil are the ones doing the spying. The girls create a situation which causes some confusion among the adults in the movie. When Val's parents, played by Tom Bosley (Happy Days) and Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote), become intimately involved with the girls hijinks and Henry Orient, the girls are forced to grow up and face life as more than just fun and games. I watched this movie and felt an intense feeling of nostalgia. I was reminded of the days of being young and careless (Ahh. . . the simpler times.). I recalled the feeling of living at home and chumming around with friends. Ahh the good 'ole days... Okay, so I'm not that much older; I still goof off with my buddies and yes, I have friends that still live at home. What I am trying to say is that this movie left me with a longing of days that seemed more innocent. Although you may not get the same vibe I did, I think it is still a classic movie for anyone to watch.
|