{"id":4475,"date":"2007-10-24T13:14:14","date_gmt":"2007-10-24T20:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4475"},"modified":"2020-12-11T18:20:30","modified_gmt":"2020-12-12T01:20:30","slug":"world-of-henry-orient-the-1964","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4475","title":{"rendered":"World of Henry Orient, The (1964)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Don&#8217;t all young girls begin to dream about romance at that age?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/World-of-Henry-Orient-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/World-of-Henry-Orient-Poster-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/World-of-Henry-Orient-Poster-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/World-of-Henry-Orient-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/World-of-Henry-Orient-Poster.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a wealthy teen named Val (Merrie Spaeth) develops a mad crush on womanizing pianist Henry Orient (Peter Sellers), she and her new friend Gil (Tippy Walker) pursue him all around New York, repeatedly disrupting his plans to seduce a nervous married woman (Paula Prentiss); their fun is over, however, when Val&#8217;s philandering mother (Angela Lansbury) returns to town, and Val and Gil catch her pursuing Orient herself.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Angela Lansbury Films<\/li>\n<li>Coming-of-Age<\/li>\n<li>Friendship<\/li>\n<li>George Roy Hill Films<\/li>\n<li>Infidelity<\/li>\n<li>Musicians<\/li>\n<li>New York City<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Love<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Levant Films<\/li>\n<li>Paula Prentiss Films<\/li>\n<li>Peter Sellers Films<\/li>\n<li>Womanizers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis unique coming-of-age tale &#8212; based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Nora Johnson &#8212; is a true delight from start to finish. Featuring sparkling performances by its two unknown leads (Merrie Spaeth and Tippy Walker) and a marvelously droll turn by Peter Sellers (whose character was apparently modeled after <a href=\"http:\/\/www.answers.com\/oscar+levant?cat=entertainment&#038;y=0&#038;x=0\">Oscar Levant<\/a>), <em>The World of Henry Orient<\/em> perfectly captures the hyper compulsion of teenage female friendship. Val and Gil&#8217;s rapport together is inspired: each time they turn to give each other a meaningful gaze, one wants to erupt in laughter (particularly given Val&#8217;s awkwardly orthodontized mouth &#8212; it&#8217;s easy to see why Orient views this adolescent cyborg as monstrous!). And they&#8217;re so deliciously <em>smart<\/em> (Val in particular) that it&#8217;s a true joy to listen to them as they discuss their dreams and passions. <\/p>\n<p>Other than its marvelous performances, the magic of <em>Henry Orient<\/em> lies in director George Roy Hill&#8217;s skill at merging humor with genuine compassion for teenage angst. Given how little control children have over the direction of their lives (Val, truly a &#8220;poor little rich girl&#8221;, is shipped from one place to the next, never experiencing a &#8220;real home&#8221;), it&#8217;s no wonder they develop the type of complex, baroque fantasies presented here &#8212; which, significantly, Val and Gil recognize as merely make-believe, but most of the adults around them imbue with cynical fear. Ironically, Val&#8217;s rich-bitch of a mother (Lansbury is perfectly cast) takes the girls&#8217; crush on Orient and turns it into a devastatingly <em>real<\/em> situation &#8212; one which acts as the film&#8217;s final catalyst before its bittersweet ending. <\/p>\n<p><strong>P.S.<\/strong> The wonderful supporting performances in <em>Henry Orient<\/em> deserve mention, with Paula Prentiss earning special kudos for her comedic role as nervous Mrs. Dunnworthy, Tom Bosley providing indelible proof of why he was cast as &#8220;Mr. C.&#8221; in <em>Happy Days<\/em>, and Phyllis Thaxter emerging as one of cinema&#8217;s ultimate &#8220;cool&#8221; moms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>P.P.S.<\/strong> See this fun website &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.notstarring.com\/movies\/world-of-henry-orient\">NotStarring.com<\/a> &#8212; for a list of actors who were considered for the lead roles (including Hayley Mills, Patty Duke, Dick van Dyke, and Tony Randall). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Peter Sellers as arrogant Henry Orient<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/orient3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/orient3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4479\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Merrie Spaeth as Val<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/val.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/val.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4482\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tippy Walker as Gil<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/gil2-copy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/gil2-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4483\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Paula Prentiss as the perennially nervous Stella Dunnworthy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/prentiss.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/prentiss.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4476\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Angela Lansbury as Val&#8217;s bitchy, promiscuous mother<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/lansbury.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/lansbury.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4478\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tom Bosley as Val&#8217;s understanding dad<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-bosley.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-bosley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4484\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Phyllis Thaxter as Gil&#8217;s kind mom<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/mom-copy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/mom-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4481\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jane Buchanan in a tiny but unforgettable role as the girl on the bus who knowingly informs Gil that Val is seeing a psychiatrist<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-bus.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-bus.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4486\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A wonderfully authentic portrait of teenage female friendship<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/friends2-copy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/friends2-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4480\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Henry Orient performing an atonal piano concerto while audience members cringe<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/piano-performance.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/piano-performance.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4477\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of New York locales<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/new-york-locales.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/new-york-locales.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4485\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Creative direction by George Roy Hill<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-running.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-running.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4487\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Nora and Nunnally Johnson&#8217;s remarkably clever and informed screenplay<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-fainting.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/who-fainting.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4488\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Elmer Bernstein&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. This one is a true gem, and shouldn&#8217;t be missed by any film fanatic. Listed as a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0058756\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1964\/03\/20\/archives\/review-1-no-title2-girls-chase-sellers-in-henry-orient.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17852\/the-world-of-henry-orient#articles-reviews?articleId=79881\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s643orient.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t all young girls begin to dream about romance at that age?&#8221; Synopsis: When a wealthy teen named Val (Merrie Spaeth) develops a mad crush on womanizing pianist Henry Orient (Peter Sellers), she and her new friend Gil (Tippy Walker) pursue him all around New York, repeatedly disrupting his plans to seduce a nervous married woman (Paula Prentiss); their fun is over, however, when Val&#8217;s philandering mother (Angela Lansbury) returns to town, and Val and Gil catch her pursuing Orient&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4475\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4475"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57133,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4475\/revisions\/57133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}