Mad About the Boy - The Noel Coward Story

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1 hr 31 min

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4/18/2024

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for sexual references

Noel Coward grew up in poverty and left school when he was only nine years old. He was queer in a very straight world. And yet by the age of 30, he was the highest paid writer in the world, and a star on the Broadway stage. He wrote, directed and acted in some of the finest plays and movies of all time, including Private Lives, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter and In Which We Serve. He also became a world renowned songwriter and performer of whom Frank Sinatra said, 'If you want to hear how a song should be sung, go see Mr Noel Coward'. And if that wasn't enough, he was also a spy during the Second World War! Against all odds, Noel Coward became the most successful multi-talented artist of the Twentieth Century. He defined an era and led an extraordinary life. This is his inspirational story told in his own words and music, and unique home movies. "I'm a generation too young to really appreciate Noël Coward. But I'd like to think I'm not such a complete numpty that I can't acknowledge that someone whose name is still a byword for a very specific sort of Englishness, and who still regularly appears on playbills and theatre hoardings the world over, must at least have a life-story worthy of a decent documentary. And Coward's, sure enough, is an absolute cracker. With narration by Alan Cumming, Rupert Everett dropping in to voice Coward's written archive, appearances by Maggie Smith and Michael Caine, and a brisk 90-minute running-time, there is a lot here to like. If you're already a fan, then you'll enjoy Mad About the Boy. And if you're a feckless wastrel wondering what all the fuss was about, you'll definitely get some answers. Recommended." ★★★★ The Dominion Post

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Genre:Documentary
Director:Barnaby Thompson
Cast:Lucille Ball, Lauren Bacall, Michael Caine