Baxter!
Baxter! is a 1973 British drama film directed by Lionel Jeffries and starring Patricia Neal, Jean-Pierre Cassel and Britt Ekland.[1] A young boy struggles to overcome his speech problem (rhotacism) and strained relationship with his parents. The film was based on a book by Kin Platt, called The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear.
| Baxter! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lionel Jeffries |
| Produced by | Arthur Lewis |
| Screenplay by | Reginald Rose |
| Based on | The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear by Kin Platt |
| Starring | Patricia Neal Britt Ekland Lynn Carlin Jean-Pierre Cassel Scott Jacoby |
| Music by | Michael J. Lewis |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth |
| Edited by | Teddy Darvas |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | MGM-EMI Distributors (UK) National General Pictures (US) |
Release date |
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| Country | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
The film was made before Jeffries' third film as director, but, The Amazing Mr Blunden, released afterwards.[2]
Plot
Roger Baxter played by Scott Jacoby, a young boy with a speech impediment from the U.S.A. goes to live in London with his mother played by Lynn Carlin, after his parents' divorce. He makes friends with his speech therapist played by Patricia Neal, Chris Bentley played by Britt Ekland, his neighbour who he met in a lift. He also makes friends with her French husband, Roger Tunnell played by Jean-Pierre Cassel and Nemo played by Sally Thomsett, a girl across his flat. He struggles to get along with both of his parents and he feels isolated in a strange city. He struggles to say the letter R and eventually slides into an emotional breakdown. A few times he can say the letter R but then sometimes he can't.
Cast
- Scott Jacoby – Roger Baxter
- Patricia Neal – Doctor Roberta Clemm
- Jean-Pierre Cassel – Roger Tunnell
- Britt Ekland – Chris Bentley
- Lynn Carlin – Mrs. Baxter
- Sally Thomsett – Nemo
- Paul Eddington – Mr. Rawling
- Paul Maxwell – Mr. Baxter
- Ian Thompson – Dr. Walsh
- Ronald Leigh-Hunt – Mr. Fishie
- Frances Bennett – Mrs. Newman
- George Tovey – George
- Marianne Stone – Woman
Production
The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear was published in 1968. One critic called it "unforgettable".[3]
In November 1971 it was announced the film would be called The Boy and it would be a co production between EMI Films and Group W Films.[4]
The film starred Scott Jacoby, who had just played the lead in a TV movie, That Certain Summer.[5] It was a rare English language film for Jean-Pierre Cassel.[6]
References
- "Baxter! (1972)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- "BAXTER!" Monthly Film Bulletin London Vol. 40, Iss. 468, (Jan 1, 1973): 48.
- Coles, Robert. (6 October 1968). "Review 3 -- No Title". Chicago Tribune. p. 20.
- Aldrich, Lancaster Reunited Murphy, Mary. Los Angeles Times (27 Nov 1971: a9.
- Haber, Joyce. (13 March 1973). "Would-be Lawyer Tuning Up as Actor". Los Angeles Times. p. e9.
- Michael Kernan. (10 March 1973). "Cassel on Tour: Of Cassel and 'Baxter!'". The Washington Post. p. B1.