In Silvio Narizzano’s charming romantic dramedy, Lynn Redgrave plays the title role, a plain and plump girl who decides to raise the illegitimate child of her roommate (played by Charlotte Rampling).
Grade: B (*** 1/2* out of *****)
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Promotional film poster
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For the part of “Georgy Girl,” a young woman who has just “missed” on being beautiful, the producers tried to get every girl in London, including Vanessa Redgrave, who turned it down because of other commitments.
In the process, she gains the attention of her employer (James Mason), an older, married man harried by a nagging and sickly wife, and the boyfriend of her roommate (Alan Bates).
At the time, the film, scripted by Margaret Forster and Peter Nichols (based on Forster’s novel), was considered outré and risqué due to its subject matter (the Production Code was still ruling Hollywood), but the picture has not dated particularly well.
Even so, the acting is uniformly good, and the comedy serves as a time capsule, reflecting swinging London and the changing mores, music, and fashion. This is the screen role that catapulted Lynn Redgrave to international stardom.
The melodic title song, which was nominated for an Oscar, became very popular, almost independently of the film.
“Georgy Girl” belongs to a cycle of new British films, set in swinging London, which also included “Morgan! (starring Vanessa Redgrave), “Darling” (starring Julie Christie), and “The Knack, and How to get It” (with Rita Tashingham).
Vanessa and Lynn received their first Best Actress Oscar nomination in 1966, the former for Morgan!, the latter for Georgy Girl.
The movie was a huge commercial hit–made on a low budget of $400,000, it earned $16.8 million at the global box office.
Oscar Nominations: 4
Best Actress: Lynn Redgrave
Supporting Actor: James Mason
Cinematography (black/white): Ken Higgins
Song: Georgy Girl, music by Tom Springfield, lyrics by Jim Dale
Oscar awards: None
Oscar Context
The winner of the 1966 best Actress Oscar was Elizabeth Taylor for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” The Supporting Actor winner was Walter Matthau for “The Fortune Cookie.”
The Best Song Oscar went to john Barry and Don Black’s title tune from “Born Free.”
The Redgraves Acting Clan
The Redgraves represent one of England’s most renowned acting dynasties, consisting thus far of five generations of players. Sir Michael Redgrave’s grandfather and both of his parents were actors, and he was married to Rachel Kempson, known for her stage and TV work. All of Michael and Rachel’s children, Vanessa, Lynn, and Corin pursued acting careers.
On the evening of Vanessa’s birth, Michael was playing opposite Olivier in Hamlet at the Old Vic. Olivier was so excited by the event that in his curtain speech he announced: “Tonight a lovely new actress has been born. Laertes (played by Redgrave) has a daughter.” Olivier’s prophecy turned out to be self‑fulfilling, when Vanessa made her first screen appearance in “Behind the Mask,” in which she played the daughter of her real‑life father.
Talent has been in abundance in the Redgraves clan, and some of which was certified by the Academy with Oscar nominations and awards. Three family members have been nominated, beginning with Sir Michael, as Best Actor for the 1947 film version of Eugene O’Neill’s “Mourning Becomes Electra.”
The nomination of Vanessa and Lynn in the same year was taken in stride by the two sisters, who both made sure to dispel any feelings of rivalry or animosity.
Lynn told reporters: “We like each other’s work and each other as people. Vanessa takes the spotlight one week, I get it the next.” In the following decade, however, it was Vanessa who distinguished herself as a performer. Regarded as one of the best actress in the English‑speaking world, Vanessa has been nominated five times, winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1977 for Julia.
As for Lynn, after a long dry period, she bounced back with a comeback performance in “Gods and Monsters” (1998), as director James Whale’s (played by Ian McKellen) Hungarian housekeeper, for which she received a second Oscar nomination, this time around in the supporting category.
Credits:
Directed by Silvio Narizzano
Written by Margaret Forster, Peter Nichols, based on Georgy Girl by Margaret Forster
Produced by Robert A. Goldston, Otto Plaschkes, George Pitcher (assoc. producer)
Cinematography Kenneth Higgins
Edited by John Bloom
Music by Tom Springfield, Alexander Faris
Color process Black and white
Production company: Everglades Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates: October 17, 1966 (USA), October 21, 1966 (UK)
Running time: 99 minutes
Budget $400,000
Box office $16.8 million
