Baxter!

Baxter!

Company type	Film
Industry	Film
Founded	1973
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Drama film

Baxter! is a 1973 drama film directed by Lionel Jeffries, featuring performances by Patricia Neal, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and Britt Ekland. The narrative centers on Roger Baxter, a young boy challenged by rhotacism and strained family dynamics. The screenplay, penned by Reginald Rose, adapts Kin Platt's 1968 novel, The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear.

Although filmed prior to Jeffries' third directorial project, The Amazing Mr Blunden (1972), Baxter! was released subsequently.

Plot

Following his parents' separation, Roger Baxter, an American child with difficulty pronouncing the letter R, relocates to London with his mother. He forms a connection with his speech therapist and develops friendships with neighbors Chris Bentley and her French spouse, Roger Tunnell, along with Nemo, a nearby girl. Confronted by neglect from his self-centered parents and the loneliness of adjusting to a new environment, Roger experiences an emotional crisis.

Cast

• Scott Jacoby as Roger Baxter
• Patricia Neal as Doctor Roberta Clemm
• Jean-Pierre Cassel as Roger Tunnell
• Britt Ekland as Chris Bentley
• Lynn Carlin as Mrs. Baxter
• Sally Thomsett as Nora "Nemo" Newman
• Paul Eddington as Mr. Rawling
• Paul Maxwell as Mr. Baxter
• Ian Thompson as Dr. Walsh
• Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Mr. Fishie
• Frances Bennett as Mrs. Newman
• Dorothy Alison as Nurse Kennedy
• George Tovey as George
• Marianne Stone as woman

Production

Kin Platt's 1968 novel, The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear, received critical praise and was influential in the emergence of psychologically driven young adult literature alongside writers such as Marjorie Kellogg and John Neufeld. It was described by The Chicago Reader as "unforgettable."

In November 1971, the movie adaptation, initially titled The Boy, was announced as a collaborative production between Anglo-EMI Films and Group W Films, with Hanna-Barbera participating—marking one of their infrequent ventures into live-action filmmaking. This project was intended to be the first of three films jointly produced by Anglo-EMI, Group W, and producer Roger Lewis.

Finding an actor for the lead role proved difficult due to its emotional complexity—a twelve-year-old boy grappling with a speech disorder. Director Jeffries chose Scott Jacoby, recently recognized for his work in That Certain Summer, commending his focus and star potential—a view shared by Patricia Neal.

The involvement of Jean-Pierre Cassel was significant given his relatively rare appearances in English-language films. Production commenced on 29 November 1971 at Elstree Studios in London.

Editor Teddy Darvas later referred to Baxter as a "minor masterpiece" because of its emotional depth but noted that it was shelved after producer Bernard Delfont found its themes concerning children's illness challenging to manage.

Reception

Variety characterized the film as "a good tearjerker" with "well-directed" elements but observed that "Reginald Rose’s adaptation is episodic and resembles more a made-for-television feature than a theatrical release," which limited its potential in cinemas despite strong dramatic qualities. The review suggested the film would be better suited for television audiences.

The Evening Standard criticized the production for excessive embellishments and described it as "ludicrously irrelevant."

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times acknowledged the film was "easy to criticize, almost impossible not to like."

Scholar Paul Moody remarked that the movie encapsulated the early 1970s' societal unease, depicting Baxter’s despair and suicidal tendencies in a manner that resonated with viewers nostalgic for a simpler past.

Teddy Darvas reflected on Lionel Jeffries’ career trajectory, noting it was regrettable that Baxter was quietly released after Amazing Mr Blunden, which led to Jeffries being primarily viewed as a children's filmmaker. Darvas argued that with stronger promotion, Baxter could have demonstrated Jeffries’ capacity for directing serious adult drama. Instead, it debuted with minimal publicity on the ABC circuit, failed commercially, and was withdrawn. He suggested that in contemporary times it might find success within niche cinemas catering to discerning audiences.

External links

• Baxter! on Letterbox DVD