Georgy Girl

Hi all,  it feels like I haven't posted anything in months, it’s actually been weeks. Well I haven't been watching that many films lately I've been catching up with this little show called Mad Men (which respectively took home its third Emmy for Televisions best drama, hurrah), in between that I took the time to watch Georgy Girl a British 1966 bittersweet comedy starring Lynn Redgrave, Alan Bates and James Mason. I was expecting something totally different to what I got, and was pleasantly surprised. I assumed (which I shouldn't do) the story would go along the lines of A Taste of Honey, or one of those other kitchen sink drama - comedies (which I do enjoy!). Georgy Girl is a zany unassuming film and it was fun to see Lynn Redgrave in her first major big screen role as Georgy, she is brilliant, this is probably Lynn Redgraves most beloved film role out of her whole career. The title character is a 22 year old frumpy naive thing that hides under her leather trench coat. She happens to have two men fall in love with her, one being the middle aged James Leamington (Mason) who has basically spoiled and looked after her since she was born and the other suitor is Jos played by Alan Bates, a childish lad who is dating Georgy's flat mate, the bad tempered Meredith (Charlotte Rampling). Georgy Girl is a revolutionised ugly duckling tale except Georgy isn't up to changing her appearance, in the opening credits she not too keenly makes the decision to get her hair done, but it’s not long before she's regretting the whole experience. She's not hip and marches to the beat of her own drum unlike her roommate Meredith for instance who is to put it bluntly a bitch in Mary Quant digs. The theme song is performed by Aussie band The Seekers, the story telling lyrics give us an insight as too who this Georgy Girl is, she basically is a poor sap who needs to "jump off the shelf". Such a funny song, not my fav but its catchy. Georgy Girl was released in 1966 and it became a smash hit and although dated now it was a very up to date film for 1966, dealing with promiscuity and abortion etc issues that had been shown on film before but I guess the public liked the portrayal in this better than previous grittier tales, and would of been easier to take in with its comic relief. This was nominated for 4 Oscars In 1966, but it didn't win any of them. One was for the films contemporary black and white cinematography, James mason got a nod for his role as a wealthy middle aged businessman and of course the films golden girl Lynn Redgrave was nominated, up against her sister Vanessa no less for Morgan!  But neither won that award went to Elizabeth Taylor for who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. And lastly Georgy Girl was nominated for best music (song). All and all I thought the actors were the real upside to the film, everyone was superb in a story that is sweet but runs a little dry in certain areas, but I found it good that almost every girl can relate to Georgy in some way and there are more than a few good laughs! Alan Bates is stupendous.  I'm not in the habit of giving a film a rating but let’s try something new and give this a 3.5/5