A mischievous, adventuresome fourteen-year-old girl and her best friend begin following an eccentric concert pianist around New York City after she develops a crush on him.A mischievous, adventuresome fourteen-year-old girl and her best friend begin following an eccentric concert pianist around New York City after she develops a crush on him.A mischievous, adventuresome fourteen-year-old girl and her best friend begin following an eccentric concert pianist around New York City after she develops a crush on him.
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations
- Doorman
- (as Jerry Jerrett)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe character of Henry Orient was inspired by real-life concert pianist Oscar Levant. Nora Johnson, who wrote the novel on which the movie was based (and co-wrote the screenplay with her father, Nunnally Johnson), said that she and a friend had a crush on Levant when they were schoolgirls.
- GoofsDuring his concert, Henry's hair changes back and forth from neat to messed up.
- Quotes
[Val induces a fantasy about Gil's divorced parents]
Val Boyd: Think your Dad will ever come back?
Marian Gilbert: Why can he? He's married and has a couple of kids.
Val Boyd: But how do you know he's happy?
Marian Gilbert: He's crazy about her.
Val Boyd: I know, but just suppose he suddenly realized his second marriage was a tragic mistake. His eyes are opened at last, and he knows now that your mother is the only woman he's ever loved in his whole life.
Marian Gilbert: I don't think there's much chance of that.
Val Boyd: So there's nothing to do but tell her the truth... the scond wife I mean. He's simply got to go back to the only woman he's loved in his whole life. Good-bye, second wife.
Marian Gilbert: You think that's really possible?
Val Boyd: Well, he's got no other choice. He can't go living a lie, can he? He's got to go back to his one true love.
Marian Gilbert: Maybe, during Christmas.
Val Boyd: Chirstmas Eve maybe.
Marian Gilbert: About 6:00.
Val Boyd: You and your mother are all alone trimming the tree, when suddenly the doorbell rings.
Marian Gilbert: I'd be the one to go and answer it.
Val Boyd: But you'd be wondering 'who on earth it could be,' because you weren't expectign anyone. He'd open the door, and he'd be standig there simply loaded with presents. And before you could say anything, he'd say, 'Shhhh,' because he wants to surprise your mother. At first, he'd give you a big hugh, just as tight as he could.
Marian Gilbert: And them Mom would come down wondering who it was, beause she'd be wondering why she didn't hear anybody say anything.
Val Boyd: And for a long time, they'd just stand there and stare at each other not saying anything.
Marian Gilbert: They wouldn't have to.
Val Boyd: [sighing mid-sentence] And then he'd take her in his arms, and rain kisses on her upturned face, and they'd just... love each other to death right there at the front door.
- Crazy creditsintroducing MERRIE SPAETH as "Gil" TIPPY WALKER as "Val"
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)
- SoundtracksHenry Orient Concerto
Music by Ken Lauber (as Kenneth Lauber)
Conducted and orchestrated by Ken Lauber (uncredited)
The movie really belongs to the two girls with a crush on the Sellers character, Henry Orient, a schlocky avant-garde pianist. Gil (Merrie Spaeth) has a the big crush on Orient and her friend Val (Tippy Walker) is her cohort in the 2 member fan club. Their relationship seems so natural you forget they are acting. Neither girl had a long career in movies (few child actors do) and it's nice to see child actors carry a movie so effortlessly. So many times kid actors can only play cute and you are quickly reminded that real kids never act that way. I suspect George Roy Hill deserves some credit for their performances - I know he got good performances from Diane Lane and Thelonious Bernard in A Little Romance. Their performance doesn't rank up there with Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon but are still very good. Considering it was the first movie for each of them, their performances are even more remarkable.
After the girls the performance by Paula Prentiss stands out. Playing a much more glamorous role than she had previously (think Tuggle in Where The Boys Are) she is funny and sexy as the married object of Seller's affections. A pleasant surprise and an indication that she should have been a bigger star than she was. Why couldn't she have had more roles like this?
Tom Bosley also plays a warm father to Val - a more sentimental version of his role as Mr C on Happy Days. Angela Lansbury practically reprises her role from The Manchurian Candidate as the worst mother she could be.
As for Sellers, his accent shifts continually. Maybe he thought he was playing numerous characters as he did in Dr Strangelove and never realized when he changed costume he was still Henry Orient. As much as I love and respect Sellers, I could see other actors in the role without hurting the movie.
If you want to see teenagers do a good job of acting like teenagers (albeit in 1964 and having a crush on a concert pianist instead of the Beatles) this is a good flick. Plus New York looks really good - you almost believe it's safe for teenage girls to wander the city late at night.
As a side note, I was surprised to discover that Merrie Spaeth was the founder of Spaeth Communications. She may not have had a long career as an actress but she sure became a success as an adult.
- How long is The World of Henry Orient?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Henrys Liebesleben
- Filming locations
- The Brearly School, 610 E. 83rd Street, New York City, New York, USA(School bus drop-off at end of opening credits)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1