GEORGY GIRL

In 1965 British novelist and biographer Margaret Forster wrote the novel GEORGY GIRL. She also had at least a stab a few months later at writing the script for the 1966 movie. In any event, GEORGY GIRL the film (with help of an additional script writer) tracks notably closely GEORGY GIRL the novel. I am writing this review to salute recently deceased actress Lynn Redgrave (1943 - 2010) who starred in the film, was nominated for an Academy Award and whom I long ago saw perform on stage in Detroit in MY FAT FRIEND. ***** Hard to disassociate from the novel is also the film's theme song, sung by a young group from Melbourne, Australia, The Seekers. For the first time in decades I recently listened to that haunting song again: "You're always window shopping but never stopping to buy/ So shed those dowdy feathers and fly - a little bit." ***** I have even sent for a CD live recording of the flop 1970 Broadway musical GEORGY. Margaret Forster's great novel of "new Elizabethan era" London in the turbulent 1960s still has legs. Overweight, slovenly, selfish 27 year old Georgina Parkin is the book's nominal heroine. We discover that wealthy, relaxed, genial James Leamington, 49, (played by James Mason in the film) who has known Georgina/George/Georgy-Porgy from her cradle) loves the daft, self-hating young woman. He has treated her (the daughter of his two house servants) for decades as his own child. James suddenly offers George a contract to be his mistress. George is tempted but stalls answering for nearly a year. ***** In the meanwhile her oversexed roommate Meredith (Charlotte Rampling), after four abortions, decides she might as well marry fledgling banker/fellow musician Jos. They wed. Meredith gives birth to Sara, after Jos and Meredith continue to live for months in George's apartment. Neither parent wants Sara, but George does. Meredith dumps Jos. After a three month sexual fling, Jos dumps George. James Leamington's ailing wife suddenly dies. And Georgy, under altered circumstances, says yes to James's improved offer. ***** There is considerable character analysis and development in GEORGY GIRL. Each main character has a different, often well articulated view of himself/herself, of Georgy, and of the others. All characters are selfish, some more than others. Only one, a friend of George's named Peg, is religious. For the most part they are a bunch of amoralists who keep bouncing off one another like billiard balls. Here and there, however, redeeming sparks of humanity flash out, though not many and not strong. A great yarn. A great movie. A grand theme song. "Hey there, Georgy girl/ Swingin' down the street so fancy-free/Nobody you meet could ever see the loneliness there - inside you." Enjoy any aspect of GEORGY GIRL that you can lay hands on: novel, film, theme song, The Seekers, flop Broadway musical. -OOO-