The Boys in the Band (1970 film)

The Boys in the Band
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	William Friedkin
Screenplay by	Mart Crowley
Based on	The Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley
Produced by	Mart Crowley Kenneth Utt Dominick Dunne Robert Jiras
Starring	Kenneth Nelson Leonard Frey Cliff Gorman Laurence Luckinbill Frederick Combs Keith Prentice Robert La Tourneaux Reuben Greene Peter White
Cinematography	Arthur J. Ornitz
Edited by	Gerald B. Greenberg Carl Lerner
Production company	Cinema Center Films
Distributed by	National General Pictures
Release date	March 17, 1970 (1970-03-17)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$5.5 million
Box office	$3.5 million (US/Canada rentals)[1]

The Boys in the Band is a 1970 American drama film directed by William Friedkin from a screenplay by Mart Crowley, based on Crowley's 1968 Off-Broadway play of the same name. It is among the early major American motion pictures to revolve around gay characters, often cited as a milestone in the history of gay cinema, and thought to be the first mainstream American film to use the swear word "cunt".

The ensemble cast, all of whom also played the roles in the play's initial stage run in New York City, includes Kenneth Nelson, Peter White, Leonard Frey, Cliff Gorman, Frederick Combs, Laurence Luckinbill, Keith Prentice, Robert La Tourneaux, and Reuben Greene. Model/actress Maud Adams has a brief cameo appearance in the opening montage, as does restaurateur Elaine Kaufman.