Baxter! is a 1973 British-American drama film directed by Lionel Jeffries and starring Patricia Neal, Jean-Pierre Cassel and Britt Ekland. The film follows a young boy called Roger Baxter who struggles to overcome his speech problem (rhotacism) and his strained relationship with his parents. The film was based on a book by Kin Platt, called The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear. The film was made before Jeffries' third film as director, The Amazing Mr Blunden, but released afterwards. Plot Roger Baxter (Scott Jacoby), a young American boy with a speech impediment, goes to live in London with his mother (Lynn Carlin) after his parents' divorce. He struggles to pronounce the letter R, and at school he becomes close to his speech therapist (Patricia Neal). He makes friends with his upstairs neighbour Chris Bentley (Britt Ekland), whom he meets in the lift, and her French husband, Roger Tunnell (Jean-Pierre Cassel). He also meets Nemo (Sally Thomsett), a girl who lives across the street from his flat. His parents are extremely self-centred and neglectful, and he feels isolated in a strange city. He eventually slides into an emotional breakdown. 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 The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear was published in 1968. One critic called it "unforgettable". In November 1971, it was announced the film would be called The Boy and it would be a co production between EMI Films and Group W Films. The film starred Scott Jacoby, who had just played the lead in a TV movie, That Certain Summer. It was a rare English-language film for Jean-Pierre Cassel. References External links 1973 films 1973 drama films British drama films Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios Films about dysfunctional families Films directed by Lionel Jeffries Hanna-Barbera films EMI Films films 1970s English-language films 1970s British films