The World of Henry Orient

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The World of Henry Orient
The World of Henry Orient movie poster
Directed by	George Roy Hill
Produced by	Jerome Hellman
Written by	Nora Johnson (novel and screenplay) Nunnally Johnson (screenplay)
Starring	Peter Sellers Paula Prentiss Merrie Spaeth Tippy Walker Jack Benny (uncredited)
Music by	Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography	Boris Kaufman Arthur J. Ornitz
Editing by	Stuart Gilmore
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	1964
Running time	106 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
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The World of Henry Orient is a 1964 comedy film based on the novel of the same name by Nora Johnson. It was directed by George Roy Hill and stars Peter Sellers and Paula Prentiss. Filming started in June of 1963 and wrapped sometime in October of that year. The premiere was at Radio City Music Hall on March 19, 1964. In 1965 the film was nominated for a "Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy" Golden Globe Award and a "Best Written American Comedy" Writers Guild of America Award. The World of Henry Orient has influenced more recent films like Ghost World.

[edit] Synopsis

Concert pianist Henry Orient (Sellers) is having an affair with a married woman, Stella Dunnworthy (Prentiss), while two preteen private-school girls, Valarie Boyd (Tippy Walker) and Marian Gilbert (Merrie Spaeth), stalk Orient and write their fantasies in a diary. Much of the humor of the film derives from Orient's paranoia that the two girls, who seem to pop up everywhere he goes, are spies sent by the husband of his mistress. When Val's mother, Isabel Boyd (Angela Lansbury), finds their diary, she suspects that Henry has acted inappropriately with her daughter. Tom Bosley has a supporting role as Mr. Boyd.

[edit] Musical adaptation

A Broadway musical adaptation of The World of Henry Orient opened at the Palace Theatre, New York in New York City on October 23, 1967. Renamed Henry Sweet Henry, it starred Don Ameche as Henry Orient, Neva Small as Marian Gilbert, Robin Wilson as Valerie Boyd, Milo Bouton as Mr Boyd, Carol Bruce as Mrs. Boyd and Louise Lasser as Stella. The show ran for 80 performances and closed on December 31, 1967, receiving less than stellar reviews. George Roy Hill directed, with Michael Bennett handling the choreography. The music and lyrics were by Bob Merrill.