Interesting film with basically different stories. A boy's parents go off to England to save the children at the beginning of World War 11 and are apparently killed in a bombing.
The child, played well by Dean Stockwell, lives with a variety of relatives before being shuffled off to "Gramps"-Pat O'Brien.
Gramps is really not his grandfather. That's really not explained very well. Barbara Hale co-stars as a rather benign teacher. She is basically there because there is a part needed for a teacher. She says little, except when she informs the other students about what happened to Stockwell's parents. A hurt young man professes that he really knew that his parents were dead.
The film then goes to one of being anti-war in general. Over night, Stockwell's hair turns green and he is told by other children to go around preaching against war.
When it appears that Stockwell shall keep his green hair and be a non-conformist, he is ultimately persuaded to cut his hair off.
Robert Ryan co-stars as a doctor who hears Stockwell's story after the latter runs away. Ryan really must have been under contract to accept this part.
Nicely done, but too many inter-connecting themes which are merely glossed over. As a child actor, Stockwell had far better films-"Anchors Aweigh," in 1945 and the magnificent "Gentleman's Agreement," in 1947.
The child, played well by Dean Stockwell, lives with a variety of relatives before being shuffled off to "Gramps"-Pat O'Brien.
Gramps is really not his grandfather. That's really not explained very well. Barbara Hale co-stars as a rather benign teacher. She is basically there because there is a part needed for a teacher. She says little, except when she informs the other students about what happened to Stockwell's parents. A hurt young man professes that he really knew that his parents were dead.
The film then goes to one of being anti-war in general. Over night, Stockwell's hair turns green and he is told by other children to go around preaching against war.
When it appears that Stockwell shall keep his green hair and be a non-conformist, he is ultimately persuaded to cut his hair off.
Robert Ryan co-stars as a doctor who hears Stockwell's story after the latter runs away. Ryan really must have been under contract to accept this part.
Nicely done, but too many inter-connecting themes which are merely glossed over. As a child actor, Stockwell had far better films-"Anchors Aweigh," in 1945 and the magnificent "Gentleman's Agreement," in 1947.