MovieChat Forums > The Boys in the Band (1970) Discussion > "You remind me of a chicken wing."

"You remind me of a chicken wing."

posted 9 years ago by dunlap-mark64
8 replies | jump to latest

Remember that conversation? When the delivery boy from the bakery arrived with Harold's birthday cake, Emory called out loudly, "Ask him if he's got any hot-cross buns!"

Hank told Emory to cut it out. Then Emory said "You remind me of an old maid school teacher," and Hank replied "You remind me of a chicken wing."

Hank was the most macho guy of that circle of gay friends, and Emory was the opposite, the stereotypical flaming "queen," the kind of guy who is "like a butterfly in heat." And that remark about being like a chicken wing is also logically connected to another part of the script, when Emory made a comment about whether Alan was going to have "a heavy date in Lafayette Square," and Hank obviously wanted Emory to keep quiet, don't say things like that to Alan.

Were these parts of the script meant to be Mart Crowley's way of pointing out to the audience that the more macho of gay men do not always fit in well with the more effeminate type?

I feel I'm much more like Hank than like Emory, but I don't think I've ever said derogatory things like that to other gay men. But I do think that way from time to time. Is that okay?

[–] Chason_S 9 years ago

I feel I'm much more like Hank than like Emory, but I don't think I've ever said derogatory things like that to other gay men. But I do think that way from time to time. Is that okay?

Well of course it is. Everyone can think whatever they want about anything.
My guess is that a mixed crowd of gay men now might have a little more respect and be a little more reserved than back in the late 60's. Plus - remember... it's really supposed to be a comedy. When I watch it I laugh until I hurt. Bitchy? Indeed. Hilarious? Oh yeah. 

[–] dunlap-mark64 9 years ago

Boys in the Band is really supposed to be a comedy?
That's a very unusual perspective. There certainly is some comedy in it, but I would have thought that the whole movie is about 90% drama and only 10% comedy.

I've been thinking about the contrast between Hank and Emory for the last few days, because these last few months I have been participating, for the first time in my life, in a gay men's chorus. Although I've been performing in choruses for most of my life, and I'm 50 now, this year was the first time I joined a gay men's chorus. I certainly enjoyed the music we sang, but I did not enjoy the little bits of campy choreography that our director included in the performance, and I said so in my after-performance assessment. When they asked us, individually, to fill out a survey, via email, about how did we like this season's program, I said that I wished we would just sing and not include any of the campy choreography. I referred to Boys in the Band and said that I am much more like Hank than Emory; being campy just isn't my style. But after I made that comment to the folks who organize the chorus, I found myself remembering that Hank said something derogatory about Emory's campiness, and now I am wondering whether making that comparison did not come across as maybe a bit condescending to the chorus's organizers who do like being campy.

[–] Chason_S 9 years ago

Boys in the Band is really supposed to be a comedy?
That's a very unusual perspective. There certainly is some comedy in it, but I would have thought that the whole movie is about 90% drama and only 10% comedy.

Not for me and quite a few of my friends who have seen it a lot. I think it's pretty much hysterical until about the last 30 minutes. There are just so MANY great one-liners!

[–] Chason_S 9 years ago

I've been thinking about the contrast between Hank and Emory for the last few days, because these last few months I have been participating, for the first time in my life, in a gay men's chorus. Although I've been performing in choruses for most of my life, and I'm 50 now, this year was the first time I joined a gay men's chorus. I certainly enjoyed the music we sang, but I did not enjoy the little bits of campy choreography that our director included in the performance, and I said so in my after-performance assessment. When they asked us, individually, to fill out a survey, via email, about how did we like this season's program, I said that I wished we would just sing and not include any of the campy choreography. I referred to Boys in the Band and said that I am much more like Hank than Emory; being campy just isn't my style. But after I made that comment to the folks who organize the chorus, I found myself remembering that Hank said something derogatory about Emory's campiness, and now I am wondering whether making that comparison did not come across as maybe a bit condescending to the chorus's organizers who do like being campy.

I see your point. I think, for you, it might just be better to be in a Men's Chorus. One that isn't necessarily gay. I agree with you that the camp would take away from it for me. Don't feel bad about it. You certainly were not the only person who felt that way.

[–] dunlap-mark64 9 years ago

But how else am I going to meet some new guys?

The camp is not too much of a turn-off for me. I said my piece, and I'll be outvoted. And I won't mind too much when we do more of that stuff. I like this chorus, where it performs, the range of various kinds of songs; I don't feel like quitting just because I don't like the choreography. And so many cute guys! It's a smorgasbord! In retrospect - and I'm just thinking out loud here - saying anything at all in that survey about the fact that I don't like the campy choreography was a wasted effort, and comparing myself to Hank seemed a little bit condescending to the other guys when I reminded myself of Hank's put-down of Emory.

[–] Chason_S 9 years ago

But how else am I going to meet some new guys?

I just had a brain fart!  YES - stay in the gay mens chorus. Since you're a bit more masculine than some of the others (or maybe a lot more...) there is probably a long line of guys there wanting to go to bed with you this very instant! Try as many of them out as possible (LOL) and then just pick your favorite! Problem solved! 

[–] vionnetcavanagh-216-127409 9 years ago

I have only just this minute got around to watching this.

I realized that pre recovery I was Michael, he is a bitter alcoholic who has been on the wagon five weeks and the wheels fall off the wagon on Harolds birthday.

I thought Cliff Gorman was fabulous as Emory and I also loved Reuben Greene as Bernard.

My impression was that Michael was clearly in love with Harold and that the histrionics were an attempt to attract attention.

I avoided the film for years because it has something of a bad reputation, but the dialogue and the performances sparkle. I got the impression that Harold was going to let Cowboy go home once he had helped him drop off his birthday presents, that Cowboy would escape untouched. Harold really seemed to be much more caring about the feelings of others, even when he hated the sweater that Hank had brought him he didn't show his displeasure, just a roll of the eyes to those who could see.

[–] dunlap-mark64 9 years ago

I realized that pre recovery I was Michael, he is a bitter alcoholic who has been on the wagon five weeks and the wheels fall off the wagon on Harolds birthday.

To me, Michael's biggest emotional problems are: 1) being ashamed of his sexual orientation, 2) feeling that he's plain and unattractive, 3) being ashamed of his lack of economic discipline. I'm not certain if all of those problems are ones that you identify with, or if it's only his alcoholism. But you say you have experienced a "recovery," which I'm glad to hear, whichever of Michael's problem you relate to the most, so that problem, or those multiple problems, don't bother you any more. That's great. Michael said near the end, "If we could only learn not to hate ourselves quite so very much." One has to learn to overcome those kinds of problems.

I thought Cliff Gorman was fabulous as Emory and I also loved Reuben Greene as Bernard.

At least one critic has praised Leonard Frey's performance as the best in the cast. As far as I'm concerned, they were all outstandingly great actors.

My impression was that Michael was clearly in love with Harold and that the histrionics were an attempt to attract attention.

Well, that's not my impression of who Michael is in love with. Michael and Harold are very much alike (like Harold said), and I certainly see platonic affection, but I don't see any budding romance between them. Michael's foremost "love" is Donald. They have slept together, and the only reason they didn't end up as lovers is because "We got to know each other too fast." I take that to mean that they realized they both have the same problem of depression, and they couldn't effectively make a romantic relationship work because they likely would feed each other's depression, rather than help each other overcome it. But out of all of Michael's feelings toward his circle of gay friends, it's Donald is the one he comes the closest to being in love with. (It's even more obvious in the play than in the movie; I've never seen the play performed but I have a copy of the script for the play, and I've noticed some crucial lines of dialogue and physical action were omitted in being adapted to the big screen. The omitted bits would have made it clearer than Michael and Donald's feelings for one another are on the verge of being love, but it's the fact that they are both too depressed that gets in the way.)

I avoided the film for years because it has something of a bad reputation, but the dialogue and the performances sparkle. I got the impression that Harold was going to let Cowboy go home once he had helped him drop off his birthday presents, that Cowboy would escape untouched. Harold really seemed to be much more caring about the feelings of others, even when he hated the sweater that Hank had brought him he didn't show his displeasure, just a roll of the eyes to those who could see.

I wish I know who would try to give this movie any kind of bad reputation. Whoever bad-mouths it probably does so because it hits "too close to home," and exacerbates some of their own emotional problems. I'm glad you watched it and realized it is an outstanding story, with extremely well-written dialogue. Mart Crowley's a genius at crafting dialogue that is both realistic/believable and yet also gives off tons of insight into the character's emotions.
Again, because I've read the script for the play, I recognize which lines of dialogue were cut from the play, and a few too many of the cut lines were pretty juicy bits that would have helped movie-watchers get even more into the heads of the characters. And in terms of "production values," I have a couple of gripes about the editing. But still, Boys in the Band is among my favorite movies of all time. I'd rank it as the second-best gay-themed movie I've ever seen.