The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972): cast, story & where to watch
1972 · Film · ★ 5.4
Released in 1972, The Boy Who Turned Yellow is an adventure and family film directed by Michael Powell, running about 55 minutes. “When John meets an alien who feeds on electricity, things start to go wrong” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. John and his class go on a school trip to the Tower of London. While he is there he loses his pet mouse and vows to return and find her later. Back in school, he is not very attentive and falls asleep during a lesson about electricity so his teacher sends him home. On the 'tube' there is a sudden flash, and John, the train and all of the passengers turn yellow. With the help of Nick (short for 'Electronic') John learns about electricity, invades the Tower of London and saves his pet mouse ... or was it a dream. This is the Powell & Pressburger touch applied to children's films.
Who’s in it. The Boy Who Turned Yellow stars Mark Dightam as John, Robert Eddison as Nick, Helen Weir as Mrs Saunders and Brian Worth as Mr Saunders, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, The Boy Who Turned Yellow has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on BFI Player Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Boy Who Turned Yellow page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Boy Who Turned Yellow tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception, Interstellar and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972)?
- In US, The Boy Who Turned Yellow is available to stream on BFI Player Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Boy Who Turned Yellow worth watching?
- The Boy Who Turned Yellow holds an audience score of 5.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy adventure and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Boy Who Turned Yellow?
- The Boy Who Turned Yellow stars Mark Dightam, Robert Eddison, Helen Weir, Brian Worth and Esmond Knight.
- When was The Boy Who Turned Yellow released?
- The Boy Who Turned Yellow was released in 1972, with a runtime of about 55 minutes.