Bar Mitzvah Boy
- TV comedy drama
- BBC One
- 1976
- 1 episode
Bittersweet Jewish family comedy written by Jack Rosenthal that explores the ramifications of a young boy's apprehensions over his bar mitzvah. Also features Jeremy Steyn, Maria Charles, Bernard Spear, Adrienne Posta, Jonathan Lynn and more.
Key details
- Genre
- Comedy Drama
- Broadcast
- 1976
- Channel
- BBC 1
- Episodes
- 1
- Stars
- Jeremy Steyn, Maria Charles, Bernard Spear, Adrienne Posta, Jonathan Lynn, Cyril Shaps, Jack Lynn, Pamela Manson and more
- Writer
- Jack Rosenthal
- Director
- Michael Tuchner
- Producer
- Graeme MacDonald
- Company
Adrenaline is rushing through the Green household in London as the family prepares for 13-year-old son Eliot's ritual passage from boy to man. There is heightened tension between taxi driver dad Victor and Valium-soothed mum Rita, and suddenly Eliot is not sure if he wants his bar mitzvah ceremony to go ahead.
On the day, he runs away from the synagogue in the middle of proceedings, eventually confiding that if the men in his family (including sister Lesley's soppy, domesticated boyfriend, Harold) are supposed to be his role models, then he doesn't want to be a man after all.
Seeking solace in a playground, Eliot proves he has not forgotten his ceremonial lines, which the rabbi declares to be good enough for him - so the boy is bar mitzvahed after all.
Additional details
- Also known as
-
- Play For Today: Bar Mitzvah Boy
- Picture
- Colour
Website links
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Tuesday 14th September 1976 at 9:35pm on BBC One
- Episode length
- 75 minutes