You're a Big Boy Now poster

1966·97 min·Released

You're a Big Boy Now

“The odyssey of a young youth who wants no part of sex...he wants it all!”

Comedy
Romance

Naive library clerk Bernard Chanticleer moves out of his parents’ home and into a chaotic city full of eccentric landlords, meddling parents, and romantic missteps. Infatuated with a glamorous but manipulative go-go dancer, he learns through heartbreak—and the kindness of a steadfast admirer—what growing up really means.

6.1(51 votes)

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You're a Big Boy Now

Cast & Crew

Elizabeth Hartman

Elizabeth Hartman

Barbara Darling

Geraldine Page

Geraldine Page

Margery Chanticleer

Peter Kastner

Peter Kastner

Bernard Chanticleer

Rip Torn

Rip Torn

I.H. Chanticleer

Michael Dunn

Michael Dunn

Richard Mudd

Karen Black

Karen Black

Amy Partlett

Tony Bill

Tony Bill

Raef del Grado

Julie Harris

Julie Harris

Miss Nora Thing

Dolph Sweet

Dolph Sweet

Patrolman Francis Graf

Michael O'Sullivan

Michael O'Sullivan

Kurt Dougherty

Ronald Colby

Ronald Colby

Barbara's Stage Play Crew

Rufus Harley

Rufus Harley

Barbara's Stage Play Crew

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Wuchak

Written on 5/24/2022

_**A naïve lad goes through an awkward and quirky growth phase in Manhattan**_ A 19 year-old “boy” working as a low-level assistant at the New York Public Library (Peter Kastner) is encouraged by his strict curator father (Rip Torn) to move out on his own and so gets an apartment with a nosey landlady (Julie Harris). There’s a quality lass at work (Karen Black) who’s interested in Bernard (Kastner), but he sets his eyes on a temperamental go-go dancer (Elizabeth Hartman). “You’re a Big Boy Now” (1966) is a quirky coming-of-age comedy/romance set in the Big Apple based on the 1963 novel of the same name, except that the setting was switched from London to Manhattan along with changing the kid’s vocation. It was Francis Ford Coppola’s thesis project for UCLA, but this is far from a “student film” as it has the polish of professionalism. He had already directed a couple flicks for Roger Corman with this one including a couple snippets from his “Dementia 13” (1963). Coppola made $8000 on the gig with an $800,000 budget that spiraled into about $1 million. While critics say the movie rips off Richard Lester's “The Knack ...and How to Get It” (1965), Francis said his script was written before that one came out, but he did admit to being influenced by Lester’s “Hard Day’s Night” (1964). I couldn’t help think of “Village of the Giants” (1965), just without the goofy giant-formula, although there’s definitely some goofiness, like the amusing rooster on the fifth floor. “The Graduate” (1967) was obviously influenced by it, but I’d watch this over that iconic film any day. After viewing, I was reflecting on the art vs. entertainment conundrum because Coppola made a flick with obvious artistic flair that didn't forget to be entertaining. It’s nice seeing Julie Harris when she was 40 during shooting. You might remember her from Columbo’s “Any Old Port in a Storm” (1971). Elizabeth was from the Youngstown/Boardman area of Ohio. You might remember her from Eastwood’s “The Beguiled” (1973). She was shy in real-life and suffered from depression, which tragically ended with her ending her life by jumping from the fifth story of her apartment in Pittsburgh at the age of 43. The movie runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot at various Manhattan locations, including the New York Public Library, Times Square and Central Park, as well as Chelsea Studios in New York City. GRADE: B

Media

You're a Big Boy Now

You're a Big Boy Now