The Family Way (Boulting Brothers Collection) [DVD]

Fantastic late Sixties film, last of the New Wave, though in colour, so it doesn't look as "grim up north" as, say, "Billy Liar" or "Saturday Night & Sunday Morning." As it happens, the geographical setting is not that important.......relationship matters occur anywhere. If this reminded me of anything, it was D H. Lawrence's "Sons & Lovers". ..in fact John Mills' characterisation called to mind Trevor Howard in that earlier film. This really is one of Mills' finest performances....you quite forget it's him. Hywel Bennett, Hayley Mills, Barry Foster & Murray Head give strong performances as the younger generation.......Hayley gives arguably her best screen performance......and the " usual suspects" playing the older characters are exemplary, with only a touch of "cloth caps & whippets" caricature. Special mention to Marjorie Rhodes, an actress I'd not come across before, who gives a wonderfully subtle account of Mills' wife, one of those rare instances where an actor communicates their inner thoughts using nothing more than body language. Wonderful! My only gripe is that, as in "Billy Liar", the actors playing Bennett's parents (Mills & Rhodes) are rather old to have a 20 year-old son!

Originally released in 1966 by Boulting Brothers 'The Family Way' is the story of newly married couple Arthur and Jenny, Hywel Bennett and Hayley Mills.From the start married life doesn't go to plan for the couple. The stresses of a clumsy practical joke on their wedding night followed by the cancellation of their honeymoon are too much for Arthur. His confidence is further shattered as their first few weeks together are spent in his parents' home where there's little privacy. Once people begin to realise Arthur has been unable to fully commit to his relationship with Jenny, on a physical level, the giggling and the gossiping begin. The poor girl is left bereft, blaming herself and looking for answers - maybe in the wrong places?. In the meantime there's a wonderful story brewing between Arthur's parents and a secret from the past is about to shatter a once seemingly solid marriage.'The Family Way' is one of my all time favourite films, a slice of pure indulgence and a real glimpse of the 1960s where traditional post war values are rapidly disappearing under a new wave of free thinking and free living.After the many times I've watched this film I've only just noticed that the music is attributed to Sir Paul McCartney!.Details;Runtime; approx. 110 minutes.15 certificate - suitable only for persons over 15 years and over.Language; English.Colour - PAL.Audio - Mono.Region 2.This edition released in 2007.Starring; Hayley Mills, John Mills, Hywel Bennett, Marjorie Rhodes, Avril Angers, Liz Fraser, Wilfred Pickles, Murray Head, John Comer and Barry Foster.Director; Roy Boulting with music by Sir Paul McCartney.

Only saw this film for the first time a few years ago and have loved it ever since. In the best tradition of British cinematography, then in its heyday. Especially poignant, as Hywel Bennett died, just a few weeks ago. His sitcom Shelley is well worth revisiting.As others here have said, a wonderful family film, evoking the 1960s, although Hayly Mills is a bit too well dressed for a Northern lass and could never do accents, to save her very own hair :)Hywel Bennet and Hayly Mills made a few films together, one or two surprisingly dark, for the time.

Very good acting, nicely innocent charming love story of newly weds trying to consummate their marriage, despite a slightly domineering father with his Edwardian ideas. All in colour and some great acting turns from Liz Fraser, Johnny Mills, daughter Hayley, Wilfred Pickles, John Comer and Barry Foster. Gentle and funny.

Back in 1968, when I was a teenaged student at the University of Southern California, I took my first airplane trip ever, a cross-continent week of sightseeing in New York City. While there, I spent one night at the cinema and happened upon a film called "The Family Way." I remember being quite impressed by it at the time and watched it again many years later when I located a VHS tape. Now that it finally has come to DVD, I ordered a copy and watched it yet again. It is the story of a newlywed couple who, due to unpropitious living conditions, are not able to consummate their marriage. The bewildered young husband (Arthur) is played by Hywel Bennett, and his bride (Jenny) is played by Hayley Mills in one of her earliest grown-up roles. Also in the excellent cast, portraying Arthur's parents, are John Mills and Marjorie Rhodes. The script is by Bill Naughton, and the director and producer are, respectively, brothers Roy and John Boulting. "The Family Way" captures well the freewheeling 1960s, and its subject matter is sensitively handled: quite funny at times, but never ignoring the serious nature of the groom's predicament. At the time of this film's production, Hayley Mills was a ravishingly beautiful 20 year old, and yet her acting talents are such that they steal many a scene. If you have not watched "The Family Way," I think you will enjoy it very much. Though less than a perfect movie (some of the comedy is a little dated and heavy-handed), all in all I think it is very much worth seeing. Its depiction of the human spirit has stayed with me for more than forty years.

AN ULTRA TRUE TO LIFE STORY OF FAMILY RELATIONS, SECRETS, PASSIONS, TEARS, JOY, UNFULFILLED MOMENTS, REGRETS AND DELIGHTS THIS FILM SET IN 1960s BOLTON LANCASHIRE ALLOWS US TO SEARCH OUR OWN INNER EMOTIONS AS WE PASS THROUGH THIS STORY WHICH AT ITS END REVEALS SUCH A TOUCHING REVELATION AND THUS MUTUAL LOVING ACCEPTANCE FINALLY THAT WE CANNOT HELP BUT BE MOVED BY THE RECONCILIATION THAT IMBUES THE CULMINATION OF THIS WONDERFUL BRITISH FILM, ENJOY !.