Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to “Mad About the Boy – The Noel Coward Story,” an intimate portrait of one of the 20th century’s greatest writers and wits.

Barnaby Thompson served as producer, writer, and director for the documentary about Coward, gaining unprecedented access to Coward’s estate. The film is told through his words and music, utilizing his personal writings, photographs, and home videos, along with archival interviews featuring Coward and his contemporaries. Alan Cummings provides the narration, while Rupert Everett voices Coward.

Coward was a popular and acclaimed playwright, actor, director, singer, songwriter and novelist. He wrote 60 plays, 500 songs, five screenplays, 14 films adapted from his plays, nine musicals, 300 poems, 21 short stories, two novels and three autobiographies. He also performed in over 70 plays and 12 movies.

But before attaining fame, Coward endured a childhood marred by poverty, leaving school at the tender age of nine. He also faced the challenge of being a closeted gay man in a time when it was illegal. Despite his humble beginnings, Coward cultivated a public persona as a charming heartthrob and the embodiment of the sophisticated English gentleman. By the age of 30, he had become the highest-paid writer in the world and a celebrated Broadway star. He wrote, directed, and acted in numerous plays and films, including “Private Lives,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Brief Encounter” and “In Which We Serve.” Furthermore, despite lacking formal musical training, he rose to international renown as a songwriter and performer. Frank Sinatra once remarked, “If you want to hear how a song should be sung, go see Mr. Noel Coward.” He also discovered prominent figures like John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, and David Lean, and even served as a spy during World War II – thankfully, on behalf of the Allied forces.

The documentary will premiere on October 9th at the IFC Center in New York City, alongside select theaters nationwide. It will also be available on home entertainment platforms starting October 11th.

During the 1950s, Coward's popularity waned, eclipsed by a theatrical shift towards realistic working-class stories such as “Look Back in Anger” and “A Taste of Honey.” However, following some theatrical setbacks, he successfully re-established himself as a cabaret performer in Las Vegas. In the 1960s, Coward was knighted and experienced a resurgence of appreciation for his work.

“Coward's remarkable career and the enduring popularity of his plays, consistently revived, speak to the timeless appeal of his wit. Barnaby's personal narrative, coupled with the subtle hints of vulnerability that Coward carefully concealed, makes this story both poignant and relevant,” says Edward Arentz, co-president of Greenwich.

Thompson collaborated with Gregor Cameron on producing the film. Executive producers included Stanley Buchthal, Bob Benton, Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik, and Vince Holden. London-based Altitude Film Sales managed international distribution, with the agreement brokered by Mike Runagall from Altitude and Edward Arentz from Greenwich.