Making the Boys (2011)

Directed by Crayton Robey (L)

Documentary based on Boys in the Band play (‘68) / screenplay (‘70) written by Mart Crowley (R)

At first, I was slightly disappointed in the limited perspective presented by Robey in those he chose to interview in terms of race, but many of the integral, living players provided their feedback.  Overall, this documentary skillfully illustrated the social and political context in which this seminal mainstream gay play met the world stage.

Further, I was heartbroken to learn the fate of many of the original cast members.  The perspective from Reuben Greene, the sole Black cast member, was missed and could have rounded out the narrative better.  Robey and Crowley state in the documentary that Greene was the only living cast member they were unable to contact. I’ve found a recent, albeit unreliable, report that the actor passed just last month.  

But then when the movie came out it was after Stonewall, but it still presented a pre-Stonewall mentality.  Ah and made a whole other sensation.  Some gay people protested Boys and the Band when it first came out and I can understand that we…we don’t want to see the negative of ourselves especially when there is so little representation of us, you want it to be something you can treasure.

- Michael Musto, Village Voice writer from Making the Boys