secondtake Georgy Girl (1966)This is kind of a great movie. With some quirks that look like weaknesses. It's a serious funny drama. At times downright goofy, other-times clever even while horrible things are happening. As a look into the life and times of London early 1960s it's quite frank and playful.The Georgy, played by Lynn Redgrave, is really amazing. She's a slightly plain girl, a tad overweight (at least according to those around her), and completely talented and fun. But she can't get a date, and this has worn her down into a despondency that she fights to overcome. Her roommate is the impossibly thin and attractive Charlotte Rampling (with a crazy hairdo), in just her second significant role in the movies. They support each other as great friends do, but there's no getting past the difference in how men see them.One man in particular, Jos, played by Alan Bates, a British actor who never quite made a dent in the American scene, puts on a bravado performance. Which is both good and bad. He's so comic and hammy, which is a lovable part of his nature, he pushes credibility. There must be people so manic, but maybe he needs some other counterbalance, rather than ongoing comic relief. And yet, what a relief. He's quite fun, and the serious strains of the movie balance out well.This serious strain is what makes "Georgy Girl" significant somehow. Because here is an actual insight into how a plain young girl tries to cope. And she does cope, somehow, making mistakes and feeling terrible about them and then cheering up because she knows somehow she needs to survive. And survive she does. It's really great.The style of the film is still the British New Wave, coming at the tail end of the movement. It's black and white and filmed loosely. It tells a middle class story overall, and from a hand camera point of view. It's rather lovely filming, in fact, and if it ever gets a proper, crystal clear release that will be newly appreciated.The final aspect of the film I have put off here, and it's where George Mason comes in. He plays the owner of the mansion where Georgy's parents work as servants. And he has had a lifelong appreciation (infatuation) with Georgy. Of course, he's an old fuddy (if handsome) and the idea that this is the type of man a kind of girl like Georgy should have (and can have) is the deepest sad pathos of the whole story. And it is punctuated with surprising sad drama at the end. I don't think this is the best film of the era, but like "Alfie" and "Darling" from the same time and place, it's revealing and wonderful in its own ways. Contemporary music, issues like abortion and the sexual revolution, and the true generation gap are all central. The script is snappy and at times cynical. The score is a hoot—filled with symphonic sound tricks (like the tympani changing pitch) to cue the viewer. And there is the title song, a hit, and if you listen to the lyrics, a commentary of it's own, quite funny.An under-appreciated film, for sure.

astrokim_chat A Kimba and Astro conversation... Astro: so what was James Mason's role? Like what was he in the movie for? Kimba:he appreciated Gy for who she was because he lived with a woman who was as "exciting as a brick". Gy is a symbol of all that's been missing from his life.Astro: I see. (light bulb just came on) Kimba: that is why the bedroom scene with James transforming everything into the opposite of what it was cracked me up! Astro: yes - and in that he was almost transforming it into how he saw Gy. Which was intriguingly the opposite to how Gy saw herself! Living in the 60s was a time where we thought life was fun, and people accepted each other. Looking back now, I see how confused, shallow and unrealistic it was. Kimba: it is the same now, i think each decade holds different confusions. Astro: I thought it interesting when Jos and Gy were looking at each other talking, with Meredith sitting in a chair. They just looked each other, fell in love and kissed, right in front of Meredith! Kimba: Meredeth is truly selfish and horrible. Jos really is a child, and he knows that. When they part, Gy has a smile on her face cause she knows too. Astro: and then she just moved on when he kissed her good-bye on the dock . Kimba: yeah no anger! Astro: Could we ever just feel that way ? Kimba: the movie has to have the characters be extreme. The extremeness offends some people. But it doesn't work without it, because you wouldn't see the contrasts, eg the maternity ward scene. Astro: I just felt all the way thru that it was idealistic - which characterizes the 60s . Kimba: yeah ! This is a serious comedy . Astro: the extreme is funny. Kimba: it is an acquired taste. Many are confused by it and miss the subtleties. It is about people, and if we looked we might recognize some of those people! Yes they are doing/saying horrid things but that is what happens in life. Astro: that is true. I liked James and her Dad sitting on the stairs drinking. Kimba:...the father saying his daughter is a frump and the look on James's faceKimba: and the scene when they tell him his wife is deadAstro: I find conversations when people have had a bit to drink, amusing! Yes - and having to be told that he must be sad and grieving! Kimba: I found that boat scene really touching . Jos was struggling with himself so much and Gy was so understanding. Astro: Meredith showed callousness, James compassion, Georgy loyalty and confidence, Jos frivolousness, her Dad was pragmatic... Kimba: yeah so right. Wife's inability to show anything Astro: also found the words to the song interesting - the change in the words from the start to the end. Astro: James was unhappy for years. Even to making a contract with Gy! Kimba: he must have, so I don't view him as horrid, I really understand him. Astro: yeah - it is a challenge to all of us really. To not just dismiss someone on first pass. Kimba: 3 characters had the ability to see things as they were and the other 3 were selfish Astro: yet all had a tinge of being selfish. All were wanting/seeking something, but some were totally unable to give. There you have it. Recognizing what we want, but being prepared to give it up for others, and not just because we want to be a martyr. Kimba: I like to think that James and Gy will work well together! Astro: I wonder what all those characters will be like today?How would Sara grow up? Would Meredith have any friends - or just more shallow friends? Kimba: and the untiring devotion of the father to James, the scene in the kitchen when he looks upward and talks about him upstairs like he is god! Astro: He is the perfect manservant. Kimba: i think Gy is so warm and although somewhat dysfunctional is just wanting something very simple and lovely from life, and i think she is really only dysfunctional from those around her. Astro: I was thinking that. It was really those around her who were dysfunctional! Astro: she was the 'best' person of all of them. Kimba: i love that scene near the beginning with the children dancing and the slow motion. That was what Georgy was about to me.Astro: yes - that was good. She actually had a good job it seems. Kimba: and she was good at it. Funny how you end up talking about these people like they are your friends or you know them! Astro: it is - easy enough to do if you identify with them though. Kimba: Loved the father he was so classic. James wants passion. He has lived without for so long. It is sad Astro: and he knows what he wants. He is a millionaire and could 'buy' what he wants, but does not. Kimba: and his wife is attractive, but he doesn't want that! Kimba: his wife is orderly too and he doesn't want that! Astro: it is like he only worked out what he wanted later. Kimba: but that's just it hey, you see that so often in real life Astro: and who he wanted. He must have watched Gy grow up. Kimba: see i find it amazing that not many will see the complexities of this movie at all. They will just see the crassness.

Greatornot This movie was entertaining but just so so. I felt the lure of this film was the intent of going for a niche to shock . This film was intentionally over the top... for its time, much like say films like 'Brokeback Mountain' of nowadays. Not saying its a bad thing , but its about the green. I was surprised that adoption was looked down on back in the 60s; Nowadays giving up a baby for adoption is considered noble. That was somewhat a generational shock. Now I will talk about the characters. James Mason was fine but he was pushing 60 and they said he was 49 in the film. I know back than actors and actresses were very vain about their age and I guess they wanted Mason in this film by hook by crook. He looked silly as a 49 yr old and it was just unrealistic. Alan Bates did an excellent job with the material he was given. His character was annoying. Best way to describe him was GILLIGAN on amphetamines. The 2 female leads were fine with Lynn Redgrave giving a wonderful performance. Particularly , in the scene she was dancing and singing, that seemed a miss for her personality . She did have a strong resemblance to one of the ladies of ROCKY HORROR. Very interesting. In a nutshell, Georgy is an insecure, caring young lady that is timid and relates better to children. I guess the irony, is that one of her love interests, Alan Bates, was all with it and passionate but regularly regressed to being childlike. That was interesting. James Mason as Georgys much older, wealthy suitor eventually got to Georgy and wedding bells. I see some reviews that the ending was shallow and the song bragged of Georgy being rich . It kept being repeated over and over. I do believe some of the reviewers missed the sarcasm. One need only look at Georgys face holding baby Sarah and than end credits. This movie is basically saying that once you get to where you want to be, you are not as happy as you thought you would be. Kind of like getting to the end of a rainbow. Nice film, though dated , but worth viewing .

samkan I remember buying the 45 rpm record "Georgy Girl" with my paper route money. And teasing the kid named George in our class. I also seem to recall that this was a film of some acclaim and noteworthiness back then. So I was intrigued when I brought it home from our our county library (as well as having been advised for forty years by the song lyrics).I wasn't just disappointed, I was annoyed. Such a shallow, superficial plot with a convenient and contrived ending! Early in the film we learn Georgy has a rich suitor, instantly determining that such is too facile and material a road for our heroine to take. Georgy then undergoes a variety of life experiences before her epiphany -without an ounce of compromise- to, duh, marry the rich guy. Worse, said career move appears to result from a direct rejection of the problems resulting from not having a ton of money.The pop version song "Georgy Girl" fades out with calls to better oneself; e.g., "The World will see...A new Georgy Girl...Wake up Georgy... Wake up Georgy Girl". Adding insult to injury, I almost fell off my Lazy Boy when, to the same accompaniment, the film ends, "You're rich Georgy Girl!...You're rich Georgy Girl!...". Well at least we now know what's important.Alan Bates overacts as one of the most irritating characters I've ever suffered though. Given my whimsical memory, idea, etc., of what I thought this movie was, I wish I had not seen it!