Jump to content

The World of Henry Orient

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hoverfish (talk | contribs) at 20:56, 8 October 2006 (infobox data). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The World of Henry Orient
The World of Henry Orient movie poster
Directed byGeorge Roy Hill
Written byNora Johnson
(novel and screenplay)
Nunnally Johnson (screenplay)
Produced byJerome Hellman
StarringPeter Sellers
Paula Prentiss
Merrie Spaeth
Tippy Walker
CinematographyBoris Kaufman
Arthur J. Ornitz
Edited byStuart Gilmore
Music byElmer Bernstein
Distributed byMGM
Release date
1964
Running time
106 min.
CountryU.S.A.
LanguageEnglish

Based on the novel of the same name by Nora Johnson, The World of Henry Orient is a 1964 comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Peter Sellers and Paula Prentiss.

In 1965 it was nominated for a Best Motion Picture -- Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award and a Best Written American Comedy Writers Guild of America Award.

Plot

Template:Spoiler Concert pianist Henry Orient (Sellers) is having an affair with a married woman, Stella Dunnworthy (Prentiss), while two preteen private-school girls, Valarie Boyd (Tippy Walker) and Marian Gilbert (Merrie Spaeth), stalk Orient and write their fantasies in a diary. Much of the humor of the film derives from Orient's paranoia that the two girls, who seem to pop up everywhere he goes, are spies sent by the husband of his mistress. When Val's mother, Isabel Boyd (Angela Lansbury), finds their diary, she suspects that Henry has acted inappropriately with her daughter. Tom Bosley has a supporting role as Mr. Boyd. Template:Endspoiler

Trivia

  • It has influenced more recent films like Ghost World. In fact, a poster for the movie appears in the background of a scene.
  • A Broadway musical adaptation opened at the Palace Theatre, New York in New York City on October 23, 1967. Renamed Henry Sweet Henry, it starred Don Ameche as Henry Orient, Neva Small as Marian Gilbert, Robin Wilson as Valerie Boyd, Milo Bouton as Mr Boyd, Carol Bruce as Mrs. Boyd and Louise Lasser as Stella. The show ran for 80 performances and closed on December 31, 1967, receiving less than stellar reviews. George Roy Hill directed, with Michael Bennett handling the choreography. The music and lyrics were by Bob Merrill.