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Bohemianism for the Masses + Beatnik Pubescence? A Transitional Film?

posted 18 years ago by R-W-Watkins
10 replies | jump to latest

Ever since I first saw George Roy Hill's The World of Henry Orient (on Canada's movie channel, MPIX) some four or five years ago, there have been two major strains of thought running through my mind regarding this seminal and under-appreciated mid-'60s film.

The first line of thought that struck me was this: TWOHO may be one of the few (the only?) examples of a mainstream film (today, it would be considered a 'family comedy') that deals—albeit satirically—with the 'bohemian', 'avant-garde' and 'poor-little-rich' sub cultures of that late '50s/early-to-mid '60s period which it was made in. Peter Sellers's Henry Orient—with his highly improvisational compositions and his gaudy, hepcat hotel room, complete with a zebra-print couch—can easily be interpreted as a parody of John Cage, LaMonte Young or even a pre-Velvets John Cale. Val Boyd can be seen as a pubescent and less tragic version of Edie Sedgwick. The whole film reeks of elements of Far Eastern culture—so vital to the burgeoning zen buddhists and haiku poets of the day. Put it all together and you get 'bohemianism for the masses'. In fact, given her background, lifestyle and artsy ecccentricities, the character Val may be the only pubescent bohemian or 'beatnik' found in a mainstream movie from this period.

The second thing that struck me was the possible position that the film holds as a link between the more innocent and often unrealistic fictional adolescent characters of the '40s and '50s, and those highly mature, believable and often controversial young characters portrayed by the likes of Glynnis O'Connor, Robbie Benson, Scott Jacoby, Jodie Foster and Diane Lane (check her out in another George Roy Hill film: 1979's A Little Romance) in the '70s and early '80s. Given the time it was made and released in (1963--'64), TWOHO appears to be a transitional film: the teenybopper flicks and Scholastic children's books of the '50s/early '60s morphing into Jeremy, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane. The slightly titilating up-the-skirt scenes of Val and Gil leapfrogging over the fire hydrants and young boy's head have the potential to function almost like Stanley Kubrick's ape-tossed bone in 2001: A Space Oddysey—I can almost imagine Tippy Walker jumping from one side of the fire hydrant in her plaid schoolgirl's skirt and landing on the other side as Jodie Foster in her Taxi Driver hooker's get-up.

Anyway, those are the two 'strains' or 'strands' of thought that immediately took congnitive root in my head upon watching this film for the first time. I watched it again last night (I taped it the second time it appeared on MPIX), and I still see the film in the same way. I would love to know what other fans/viewers think, especially Elizabeth/'Tippy', of course—it's great to know you're still alive and functioning as an artist, Ms. Walker, especially after many years of rumours of hard times, homelessness, poor health, impending death, etc.; we all love you and your work—please try and stay around for a long while yet.

posted by R-W-Watkins

[–] awhoney 18 years ago

It took me this long to see the film, as I had wondered if it wouldn't make me queasy. However, the handling of all the elements is adult in the best sense of the word. The timing of the production made all the difference perhaps, since seediness and cynicism set in so quickly after the assassinations began. The most cynical character is Angela's, but she gets her comeuppance - again, the sort of cosmic justice people would scoff at today. She's "old Hollywood" as a person and as a type, and yet fits in quite well with the other characters and actors. Amazingly, the therapy jokes don't date! That was one of the things that had me worried. After growing up on Woody Allen movies, I thought one more psychiatry joke would send me up the wall. I think that kitchen scene where they talk about analysis is my favorite. It would be my first choice as a good example of "female bonding" in films. Plus, it's intergenerational! I honestly can't think of a comparable scene in another film, offhand. The progressive music jokes also still work, which I hadn't expected. (Don't want to give away the good bits, though!) You can still call this boho-for-the-masses, I think, not just a time capsule. It's very "modern" (and I mean that as a compliment, though notice I had to put the word in scare quotes).

[–] slokes 18 years ago

<<Amazingly, the therapy jokes don't date!>> Awhoney

It's interesting though that the concept of being in therapy is seen then as being so embarrassing to Val that she moves away abruptly from Gil at their first meeting when Gil starts to ask why she's excused early every day (which we later find is for psychiatric counseling). Later Gil is slightly scandalized and unbelieving when a colorful classmate tells her what's up with her kooky friend.

Only a short time later, kid therapy would be fairly commonplace, but here in 1963/64, it's something else that makes Val a misfit in the eyes of society.

[–] whitedogandharriet 18 years ago

Yes it was guardedly bohemian. Mr. Hill was at heart a renegade but got caught up in his Catholic midwestern uppermiddleclass roots alot. I think he was a Hill from Minniapolis(sp?).When we went to greenwich village I had never seen people who lived like that before and I loved it. Gardner Mckay walked through one day in sandals looking sooo handsome and carefree. There was a family I went back to visit who rode bicycles to Virginia I think every summer; their house smelled of cats and incense, it was there I saw for the first time a line of ants crawling up a kitchen wall unmolested, so nice!! The Laprels. Hope you are fine and happy still. It was the beginning for me of a life of discovery and growth. Not over.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dotsetloops 16 years ago

Very recently, I read Nora Johnson's original novel, and there's a couple of bits in there that might support this thesis. For starters, people that Val lives with in the book actually live near Greenwich Village. When Gil does down to see her, it's her first time in the village.

The obsession with Henry Orient in particular makes a lot more sense. Val is actually very devoted pianist in the book. Before they go to see Henry Orient perform, Gil and Val have this exchange:

"Listen, Mom wants to know if we want to go to a concert Friday Night. Somebody named Henry Orient is playing at Carnegie." I was looking at the Times. "'Henry Orient, a newcomer to the concert stage, has technical versatility and enthusiasm, but lacks the finesse and discrimination of a true artist. Subtlety and nuance are lessons he has yet to learn.'"

"Oh, I see. Schmaltz. I've heard of him. He's been trying to get a concert in New York for years. Sure, let's go."

[–] lisawagner55-821-766544 15 years ago

ty for your intelligent, insightful & informative post (sorry about the alliteration.)
TWOHO is one of my favorite movies, and Tippy Walker is certainly one of the most memorable young actors of this generation. regrettably, she did not get the roles she so richly deserved. i hope she somehow knows how many lives she has touched with her brief, but brilliant star quality and acting talent.

[–] phrumpster 14 years ago

OP, I didn't think of this when I first read your post years ago, but another mainstream flick that dealt with Bohemia was Funny Face. I'm sure that there were a few more.

Poets are made by fools like me, but only God can make STD.

[–] EllisFowler 10 years ago

his gaudy, hepcat hotel room

I could've sworn it was an apartment. And "hepcat?" No. Just a pretentious, affected guy with more hubris than talent.

[–] freerun250 9 years ago

I was 10 when the film came out. I grew up in the city. Manhattan was always a place where there was a mix of economic classes. I attended a dramatic academy and the girls were so typical and realistic. They played just like we did. The way a child would play in the country, jumping over fences, we jumped over hydrants and benches! We had crushes. This is what young girls were like in the city in the 60s. What a fun movie.

[–] AliciaHuberman59 9 years ago

Bell Book and Candle takes place in late 50s Greenwich Village (1958) and depicts witches and warlocks as bohemians and beatniks.

"No, I don't like to cook, but I have a chicken in the icebox, and you're eating it."