The History Boys (film)

The History Boys
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nicholas Hytner
Screenplay by	Alan Bennett
Based on	The History Boys by Alan Bennett
Produced by	Damian Jones Kevin Loader Nicholas Hytner
Starring	Richard Griffiths Frances de la Tour Stephen Campbell Moore Clive Merrison
Cinematography	Andrew Dunn
Edited by	John Wilson
Music by	George Fenton
Production companies	BBC Films DNA Films UK Film Council
Distributed by	Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release date	13 October 2006 (2006-10-13)
Running time	112 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£2 million
Box office	$11,121,000

The History Boys is a 2006 British comedy drama film adapted by Alan Bennett from his 2004 play, which won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner, who directed the original production at the Royal National Theatre in London, and features the original cast of the play.

The school scenes were filmed in Watford in two schools, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls. The film uses the uniform of Watford Boys. Locations in Elland and Halifax, West Yorkshire, are used to create the broader landscape of Sheffield in which the story is set.

Bennett’s book Keeping On Keeping On, which consists of his diaries from 2005 to 2015 with a few other essays, contains a chapter, “The History Boys, Film Diary”, in which Bennett records his experiences and reflections during, and shortly after, the making of the film. This diary starts on 14 July 2005 and continues with entries every few days up to 24 August, followed by the final entry on 1 November 2005.^[1]