Where do I start with Georgy Girl? There's so much to love about this movie. It's one of my favorite movies of all time, and for years, the name Georgina was at the top of my baby names list. In essence, it's about a girl, who isn't classically beautiful and who has very low self-esteem, learning who she is and what she wants out of life.Lynn Redgrave, in an Oscar-nominated role, stars as Georgy. She puts so much into her character to make Georgy likable and accessible to the audience. A modern Georgy would undoubtedly have so much attitude it would be sickening, but Lynn's attitude is almost farcical. She sasses Bill Owen, her father, but not because she has any real hatred or meanness in her heart; she's just acting like a kid who feels ashamed that her parent isn't proud of her. It's tricky to play a late-coming-of-age character without the audience thinking you're just enormously immature, and Lynn nails it. She's curious, afraid, self-deprecating, hopeful, and gutsy. Obviously, this is a very personal film to me, and obviously I'm partial to Lynn Redgrave's character rather than Charlotte Rampling's. Those who favor the other side might not like the movie as much.Charlotte Rampling plays Lynn's roommate and pseudo-friend. She's everything Lynn's character isn't: beautiful, thin, sexy, controlled, and calculating. She and her boyfriend Alan Bates are easy to hate, but since Lynn hasn't grown into her own yet, she insists on hanging out with them and comparing herself to Charlotte. While it is very black-and-white about which is the good and bad girl, Charlotte is still written as a realistic character. There are people out there who are just as vile and heartless as she is.James Mason, also in an Oscar-nominated role, steals the screen starting with the fantastic build-up to his entrance scene. In the original novel, James Mason's character is written to be very large and unappealing, which is the largest change from the page to the screen. James, even though he has a few miles on him, is enormously appealing. He's charming, witty, generous, patient, and above all, he appreciates Georgy in ways no one else does. He's so fantastic in this movie, it's impossible to dislike him, even though it's obvious he wouldn't have even been cast if it weren't for Lolita. Only James Mason's wonderfully imitative voice can deliver the lines with their full potential. "She was a beautiful woman . . . beautiful, tolerant, civilized . . . and about as exciting as a half brick." "Lace! Lots of, you know, lace!" And there's my favorite, a quote so famous in my house, we say it almost as often as we say "James Mason" in his own accent: "I'm forty-nine. Notice that, not fifty." Seriously, no one but James Mason can say "forty-nine" in such a quotable way.Everyone knows I'm partial to older men, but it's not my bias that adores James Mason in Georgy Girl. He's incredibly charming, powerful, and observant; the sparks fly between him and Lynn so much that even a benign peck on the cheek feels like a master seduction. Georgy Girl is a classic sixties comedy-drama, complete with awkward music, and a newfound focus on sex that ten years earlier wouldn't have been shown on film. Pregnancy, abortion, premarital sex-only in 1966 could these topics be so tactfully treated. Any earlier and they'd have to be written out of the script; any later and they'd be treated more explicitly and without tact. Any remake of Georgy Girl would have several gratuitous sex scenes, when the lengthy kiss scenes in the 1966 film are clear enough for the plot's purpose. Margaret Forster, authoress of the original novel, and Peter Nichols have written a timeless classic that doesn't shy away from taboo topics and treats them with the gravity they deserve.Whether you rent it because you've never heard of James Mason and are in the mood for a new celebrity boyfriend, or because you know what it's like to feel and be treated like you're ugly, or because you need inspiration to come out of your shell, you'll be in for a wonderful movie night. Plus, you'll get to see Lynn Redgrave doll up in full '60s splendor and belt, "It takes a whole lot of lovin' just to keep this baby happy!" while dancing her way down the staircase.

Was Lynn Redgrave running some sort of school upstairs in James Mason's home? Am shocked that Mason was nominated for best supporting actor here as his part called for him to be a stiff, awkward middle-aged married Lothario with romantic designs on the very frumpy-looking Lynn Redgrave. The nomination should have gone to Alan Bates who was sensational as the free-spirited boyfriend of Charlotte Rampling, who unfortunately married the wrong woman here, but of course that sets off the events of this 1966 film.Far from a beauty, Georgy had so much to give to others as she desired love and acceptance. Never understood how she could be the room-mate of the egocentric and very nasty Charlotte Rampling.Rampling should have snagged a best supporting actress nomination for her role, especially her ambivalence after giving birth.

If you need a quick synopsis of the plot line for Goergy Girl, listen to the lyrics of the intro song Goergy Girl at the beginning of the movie.Sweet Georgina, a lonely British girl in the 60's dreams of what usually some unattractive, overweight girls wish for. A knight with shining armor to sweep her off her feet, marry her and live happily ever after in a castle with an adoring husband and especially lots of children.Well... as you may know, life does not turn out like we wish. Georgina or better known as "Georgy" does have an admirer. He is her parents employer, James Learnington, played by the stately James Mason, a wealthy, soon to be widowed, slightly lecherous millionaire who is captivated by Georgy's youth, wit and charm. Because of his fondness for Georgy he seems to treat her parents (his servants) almos6 like family and allows Georgy to teach a kindergarten/dance class in his home. But Georgy still craves to be like her room mate, vain, conceited Meredith who is is popular with all men and the IN crowd. Meredith's boyfriend, Joes, a clownish, childlike man, follows Meredith around like a love starved puppy and overlooks her catty abusive behavior. Suddenly, Meredith announces "she's bored" ...and pregnant and this two, who really make the image for bad parents decide to get married. Georgy, a true blue friend and the usual third wheel, supports their decision and provides gifts for the baby from her senior admirer.But as expected, selfish Meredith and irresponsible Joes are not the picture of good parents. Now Georgy makes a decision...what to wish for or what can she go after and get because she has fallen in love with their baby and she wants to adopt her.Georgy Girl is a modern tale of a girl who breezes thru life with a sort of low self esteem. But she has a happy ending because like the Wizard of OZ, she realizes she has what she wants in her own backyard and she has the ability to get it. The acting is very good and this movie launched the career for Lynn Redgrave. Also, with a good Supporting cast, a well written screen play, and like the pop song, Georgy Girl by The Seekers, it is a fresh and bouncy British film.

It is hard to find words to describe to this generation the extent of the condemnation that girls "in trouble" faced 50 years ago.Films like Pagnol's "Fanny" or Demy's "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" poignantly illustrated the difficult choice between romantic love and contracting oneself out to ensure that one's child would not face society's all too real retribution.In that context, Georgy Girl is an extremely bold film that turned the Fanny tale on its head, playfully mocking the absurdity of the situation and cleverly empowering the victim. However, it manages to rise above "message" pieces such as "Guess who's coming to dinner" by carefully treading the line between reality and satire and always respecting the basic humanity of the characters.The spot-on performances of the cast, especially Redgrave make this fun to watch and easy for modern audiences to relate, even after the softening of the attitudes that the film gently mocks.Much like the Seeker's opening theme - very 60's but still catchy and fun...