- The World of Henry Orient
Infobox_Film
name = The World of Henry Orient
image_size = 215px
caption = theatrical poster
director =George Roy Hill
producer =Jerome Hellman
writer = Nora Johnson
"(novel & screenplay)"Nunnally Johnson "(screenplay)"
starring =Peter Sellers Paula Prentiss Merrie Spaeth Tippy Walker Tom Bosley
music =Elmer Bernstein
cinematography =Boris Kaufman Arthur J. Ornitz
editing = Stuart Gilmore
distributor =MGM
released = 19 March fy|1964 "(NYC)"
runtime = 106 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget =
gross =
imdb_id = 0058756"The World of Henry Orient" is a 1964 American
comedy film based on the novel of the same name byNora Johnson . It was directed byGeorge Roy Hill and starsPeter Sellers ,Paula Prentiss ,Angela Lansbury ,Tippy Walker ,Merrie Spaeth ,Phyllis Thaxter , Bibi Osterwald, andTom Bosley . Filming started in June fy|1963 and wrapped sometime in October of that year. The premiere was atRadio City Music Hall on March 19, fy|1964. In 1965 the film was nominated for theGolden Globe Award in the category "Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy", and for aWriters Guild of America Award for "Best Written American Comedy".Plot
Concert pianist Henry Orient (
Peter Sellers ) is trying to have an affair with a married woman, Stella Dunnworthy (Paula Prentiss ), while two preteen private-school girls, Valerie Boyd (Tippy Walker ) and Marian Gilbert (Merrie Spaeth ), stalk him and write their fantasies about him 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 would-be mistress. When Val's mother, Isabel Boyd (Angela Lansbury ), finds their diary, she suspects that Henry has acted inappropriately with her daughter. She contacts Orient and they have an affair.Tom Bosley has a supporting role as Mr. Boyd.Cast
Production
The pianist's unusual surname, "Orient", came about because Nora Johnson based the character on
Oscar Levant , a real-life concert pianist, raconteur and film actor. Since a region ofAsia Minor is known asthe Levant , the name is a play on words. In the film, the only comment on the pianist's unusual name occurs when his two teenage fans put on Chinese conical hats and address their idol as "Oriental Henry".Reception
"The World of Henry Orient" was the official U.S. entry at fy|1964
Cannes Film Festival .cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = The Girls of "Henry Orient" | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Time | date =May 15 ,1964 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,871047,00.html | accessdate = 2008-04-30 ] The film was well-received by critics and has an 88% rating atRotten Tomatoes . It was voted one of the Year's Ten Best Films by theNational Board of Review in fy|1964.Musical adaptation
A
Broadway musical adaptation of "The World of Henry Orient" called "Henry, Sweet Henry ", with music and lyrics byBob Merrill , book byNunnally Johnson (the father of Nora Johnson, direction byGeorge Roy Hill and choreography byMichael Bennett , opened at the Palace Theatre on October 23, 1967. It starredDon Ameche as Henry Orient,Neva Small as Marian Gilbert, Robin Wilson as Valerie Boyd, Milo Bouton as Mr Boyd,Carol Bruce as Mrs. Boyd andLouise Lasser as Stella.Pia Zadora also appeared in the role of a student. The show ran for 80 performances and closed on December 31, 1967, receiving less than stellar reviews. [ibdb title|2963|Henry, Sweet Henry]Although the show was not a success, one of its performers,
Alice Playten received a 1968Theatre World Award , and was nominated for aTony Award for "Best Featured Actress in a Musical." In addition, Michael Bennett was nominated for a Tony for "Best Choreography." [IBDB [http://ibdb.com/awardproduction.asp?id=2963 Awards] ]Notes
External links
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* [http://www.notstarring.com/movies/world-of-henry-orient Complete list of actors who were considered for roles]
* [http://www.mgm.com/title_title.php?title_star=WORLDOFH MGM site with stills, samples from the soundtrack and soundbites of dialogue]
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