I have to say that peter sellers portrayal was fantastic, and the movie. The younger johnson had grown up in new york after her parents divorce, dreaming of her absent father and hoping that her parents would get back together. The world of henry orient was later musicalized for broadway as henry, sweet henry. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The world of henry orient, a novel nora johnson the story of henry orient, a concert pianist whose life is turned upside down by two infatuated schoolgirls. The world of henry orient 2002 while trying to seduce a married woman paula prentiss, egotistical concert pianist henry orient peter sellers is interrupted by two precocious schoolgirls. Johnson published several other novels and books, including 2004s coast to coast. Nora johnson two adolescent girls growing up in new york city find friendship and adventure as they follow the life of a very mediocre concert pianist. Johnson and her father adapted the world of henry orient for the screen, with sellers in the title role. Nora johnsons the world of henry orient, published in 1958, is an amusing, affectionate satire of the last days of innocence in the lives of two new york girls, marian gil gilbert and valerie val boyd. Oct 10, 2017 nora johnson, who portrayed the breathless infatuation of two schoolgirls with a concert pianist in her novel, the world of henry orient, which she helped adapt into a popular movie starring. With peter sellers, tippy walker, merrie spaeth, paula prentiss. Despite the problems, which included craft union hassles incident to being the first film ever.
The world of henry orient 1964 journeys in classic film. The girls overworked imaginations, manifested in pursuing orient about and recording their fantasies in their diaries, leads walkers mom, angela lansbury, to conclude that henry has had his way with her underaged daughter. In 1964 hill directed the world of henry orient, which was adapted from a novel by nora johnson who wrote the screenplay with her husband, nunnally. The protagonist, marian gilbert, is thirteen at the. Nora johnson, writer who created the world of henry orient. Nora johnsons the world of henry orient, published in 1958, is an amusing, affectionate satire of. Mgms dvd of the world of henry orient is a fine new 16. Producer jerome hellman guided this production through many harrowing days as an allnew york try. The world of henry orient 1964 directed by george roy hill splitsing sequence. Nora johnson two adolescent girls growing up in new york city find friendship and adventure as they follow the life of. The two schoolgirls, valerie boyd and marian gilbert, were played by tippy walker and.
The world of henry orient is a classic comedy filmed 50 years ago this summer. The world of henry orient is a hackneyed and misjudged relic of 1960s cinema, which ranks alongside the fiendish plot of dr. After a recent viewing of the world of henry orient, the 1964 cult classic about two teenage girls obsessed with a famous but secondrate. The world of henry orient peter sellers tippy walker merrie spaeth 1964 two rich manhattan schoolgirls tippy walker, merrie spaeth become infatuated with a pianist peter sellers and follow him around. Concert pianist henry orient peter sellers is trying to have an affair with a married woman, stella dunnworthy paula prentiss, while two teenage privateschool girls, valerie boyd tippy walker and marian gilbert merrie spaeth, stalk him and write their fantasies about him in a diary. R3, all that peter sellers henry orient slapstick was created for the film while the rest of it was in the book except for the ending which is much lighter and happier in the movie which is why it looks out of place. It has a wonderful story and colorful characters, and i really related to the two teenage girls. It stars peter sellers, angela lansbury, paula prentiss, tom bosley, etc. Nora johnsons the world of henry orient, first published in 1958, is a sad, beautiful story about the pains of early adolescence. At a carnegie hall concert, they see a pianist named henry orient, and they are immediately. Val and gil tippy walker and merrie spaeth are best friends enduing the eighthgrade, and their parents various failings, together. The world of henry orient 1964 peter sellers, tippy.
Books by nora johnson author of the world of henry orient. The world of henry orient, first published in 1958 when the author was just 25, came from johnsons infatuation with oscar levant, the witty concert pianist and actor. Nora johnson has 22 books on goodreads with 521 ratings. Oct 09, 2017 nora johnson, a novelist and memoirist who had an early success with the world of henry orient, which was later made into a film with the help of her screenwriter father, nunnally johnson. Nora johnsons most popular book is the world of henry orient.
The difference between the books henry orient, and the movies character, is quite strong. The world of henry orient is a 1964 american comedy film directed by george roy hill and starring peter sellers, paula prentiss, angela lansbury, tippy walker, merrie spaeth, phyllis thaxter, bibi osterwald and tom bosley. The world of henry orient peter sellers tippy walker merrie spaeth 1964 two rich manhattan schoolgirls tippy walker, merrie spaeth become infatuated with a. Television actress phyllis thaxter is a warm presence as gils mom, while bosley gives one of his finest acting turns as a father realizing the kind of life he has made for his daughter. A mischievous, adventuresome fourteenyearold girl and her best friend begin following an eccentric concert pianist around new york city after she develops a crush on him. A broadway musical adaptation of the world of henry orient called henry, sweet henry, with music and lyrics by bob merrill, book by nunnally johnson the father of nora johnson, direction by george roy hill and choreography by michael bennett, opened at the palace theatre on october 23, 1967. It allows me to imagine an innocent place where precocious girls giggle, whisper, and adventure long after the sun has set, experiencing the heady rush of true freedom. Orient s paranoia leads him to believe that the two girls, who seem to pop up everywhere he goes, are. May 06, 2008 the world of henry orient 1964 directed by george roy hill splitsing sequence. The charming and original comedy centres on two teenage groupies who are obsessed with a pianist played by peter sellers. The world of henry orient 1964 the world of henry orient.
The world of henry orient film by hill 1964 britannica. The world of henry orient is one of those small wonderful movies that is a joy from start to finish. The world of henry orient 1964 henry orient peter sellers is a madly egocentric and overly amorous avantgarde concert pianist who is hilariously pursued all around new york city by two 14yearold fans. The world of henry orient is a 1964 american comedy film directed by george roy hill and. Orient in the book is just a man they are obsessed with there is nothing from his point of view, none of that paula prentiss. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. New york nora johnson, a novelist and memoirist who had an early success with the world of henry orient, which was later made into a film with the help of her screenwriter father. Sellers plays a keyboard impressario who looks and talks like a cross between a used car salesman and a phoney foreign gigolo. Mar 31, 20 world of henry orient, the original trailer. R3, all that peter sellershenry orient slapstick was created for the film while the rest of it was in the book except for the ending which is much lighter and happier in the movie which is why it looks out of place. Fu manchu as one of the worst films of sellers career.
Thankfully, its a lot less than many titles from this era, and you can barely tell on this very clean and clear dvd. The world of henry orient 1964 certainly falls into this difficult category as his two inexperienced young stars were featured in almost every scene and alternated between location shooting and studio sound stage work. Featuring sparkling performances by its two unknown leads merrie spaeth and tippy walker and a marvelously droll turn by peter sellers whose character was apparently modeled after oscar levant, the world of henry orient perfectly captures the hyper compulsion of teenage female friendship. Aug 01, 2002 buy the world of henry orient by nora johnson isbn. In april 1962 nunally johnson said he wanted to adapt the book into a screenplay for 20th century fox. The story is immediately recognizable in its theme and setting, but it exists in what seems to be another time and another place. In this way, the world of henry orient might best be grouped with the bell jar by sylvia plath, who was actually johnsons classmate at smith in the early 1950s even though plaths 1963 novel more explicitly endorses the rejection of fifties values in a way johnsons marian cannot yet articulate. The world of henry orient 1964 directed by george roy hill. Apr 03, 2012 after a recent viewing of the world of henry orient, the 1964 cult classic about two teenage girls obsessed with a famous but secondrate pianist played by peter sellers, i was trying to. The world of henry orient 1964 george roy hill synopsis.
Watching peter sellers is always a treat because the man was so versatile and could play deadpan and manic in the same scene and it could still look and feel effortless. The world of henry orient trailer turner classic movies. Aug 09, 2017 the world of henry orient is chock full of great roles for some decent character actors of the day. The world of henry orient by nora johnson book cover, description, publication history. Oct 11, 2017 the world of henry orient, first published in 1958 when the author was just 25, came from johnsons infatuation with oscar levant, the witty concert pianist and actor. Tom bosley on working on the world of henry orient emmytvlegends. For those of you who have only known peter sellers as the bumbling inspector clouseau, the world of henry orient shows this talented comic in an entirely different light. From its beginning as a first book by the young nora johnson, daughter of the great screenwriter, nunnally johnson, the world of henry orient was a labor of love for all who worked on it. After a recent viewing of the world of henry orient, the 1964 cult classic about two teenage girls obsessed with a famous but secondrate pianist played by peter sellers, i was trying to. The world of henry orient by nora johnson fantastic fiction.
Sep 09, 2015 the world of henry orient is, at times, a bit too wacky for its own good, but this isnt really about henry orients worldhe just lives in it. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The world of henry orient by nora johnson goodreads. World of henry orient, the original trailer youtube. In discovering the world of henry orient as an adult, ive found a tale that feels like a cool wind whipping through the leaves of central park. New york film locations from the movie the world of henry orient starring peter sellers. In new york, two teenagers stalk their idol, a womanizing concert pianist, while he is in pursuit of a married woman. The world of henry orient had originated as an autobiographical novel by nora johnson, daughter of acclaimed screenwriter nunnally johnson. Nora johnson, a novelist and memoirist who had an early success with the world of henry orient, which was later made into a film with the help of her screenwriter father, nunnally johnson.