Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Ira Wohl's BEST BOY remains one of the most beloved and critically-acclaimed docs of all time. Wohl's story centers around his 52-year-old cousin Philly, who has been mentally retarded since birth and has never lived apart from his parents, Max and Pearl Wohl. Now elderly, ailing, and concerned about Philly's future after their deaths, the Wohls are prompted by Ira to begin teaching their son self-reliance. As Philly moves from summer camp to training center and finally to an independent group home, BEST BOY becomes a stark but tender portrait of a family confronting life's impermanence and change. The DVD edition features Wohl's follow-up film BEST MAN, which revisits Philly 20 years later as he continues to live on his own.

Documentary filmmaker Ira Wohl spent three years following his cousin Philly Wohl, a 52-year-old retarded man. Philly's parents Pearl, 72, and Max, 78, have cared for and sheltered him all his life, but now they must help him to become self-sufficient in preparation for the day when he will be forced to care for himself. The film follows Philly as he first ventures out into the world alone and meets with psychologists and counselors at a training center.

Ira Wohl spent 3 years working on this film. It was he who persuaded his aunt and uncle to help Philly gain his independence.

Zero Mostel appears in the film when Philly Wohl is given backstage access after a show and the two sing "If I Were a Rich Man."

Shot in 16mm.

Screened at the 1979 Toronto and New York Film Festivals. Audiences at Toronto named "Best Boy" their favorite film at the Festival.

Released theatrically in February 1980.

Running time at the Toronto Festival was 111 minutes, while theatrical and video prints run 105 minutes.

Available for video rental in the UK. Distributed in the UK by Academy Video.

Rated BBFC E by the British Board of Film Censors.

To order video, see your store manager.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
Bonus Feature - 1. BEST MAN
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Biography - 1. Ira Wohl - Director

Ira Wohl: Director/Writer/Best Boy

Ira Wohl: Director/Writer/Best Boy

Ira Wohl: Director/Writer/Best Boy

"...A fine, unusually moving example of documentary film making..."