This song from The Boy With Green Hair (Nature Boy) movie made in 1948 directed but Joseph Losey has been going through my head.
. This movie and the song played over the opening titles is my first conscious recollection of being profoundly affected by a dramatic film .I would have been about 5or 6 years old or younger when my Dad showed it at the Brighton Cinema in the early 1950's .
The Boy With Green Hair was probably one of the first pacifist anti War movies made after the 2nd World War,it's told in the form of a parable.
It starred Dean Stockwell as Peter a war orphan and lonely little boy who's parents have been killed in the war during the London Blitz. He is not told their fate but shuttled from one selfish relative to the next.
He finally is sent to "Gramp"a loveable ex vaudevillian played so well by veteran actor Pat O'Brien and they get along fine .
One morning after Peter is finally told he is an orphan his hair mysteriously turns green and the story becomes a parable for the waste of human life and futility of War.
Peter decides that his hair has turned green for a reason and it's his mission as a War Orphan to spread a message for peace despite the various reactions and rejection of the townspeople to his hair turning green.
Peter eventually realises he does have a very special place in the world.
I love this movie it's probably dated ,long forgotten and had a tiny budget but to my mind its a lost gem well acted worth a look I treasure it in my DVD collection.
I think at the time I felt a little unusual and different and was like the boy in the song perhaps "a very strange Enchanted boy" The lyrics-
There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he wandered very far Very far over land and sea A little shy and sad of eye But very wise, was he And then one day One magic day he passed my way While we spoke of many things Fools and kings This he said to me The greatest thing You'll ever learn Is just to love And be loved In return.
. This movie and the song played over the opening titles is my first conscious recollection of being profoundly affected by a dramatic film .I would have been about 5or 6 years old or younger when my Dad showed it at the Brighton Cinema in the early 1950's .
The Boy With Green Hair was probably one of the first pacifist anti War movies made after the 2nd World War,it's told in the form of a parable.
It starred Dean Stockwell as Peter a war orphan and lonely little boy who's parents have been killed in the war during the London Blitz. He is not told their fate but shuttled from one selfish relative to the next.
He finally is sent to "Gramp"a loveable ex vaudevillian played so well by veteran actor Pat O'Brien and they get along fine .
One morning after Peter is finally told he is an orphan his hair mysteriously turns green and the story becomes a parable for the waste of human life and futility of War.
Peter decides that his hair has turned green for a reason and it's his mission as a War Orphan to spread a message for peace despite the various reactions and rejection of the townspeople to his hair turning green.
Peter eventually realises he does have a very special place in the world.
I love this movie it's probably dated ,long forgotten and had a tiny budget but to my mind its a lost gem well acted worth a look I treasure it in my DVD collection.
I think at the time I felt a little unusual and different and was like the boy in the song perhaps "a very strange Enchanted boy" The lyrics-
There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he wandered very far Very far over land and sea A little shy and sad of eye But very wise, was he And then one day One magic day he passed my way While we spoke of many things Fools and kings This he said to me The greatest thing You'll ever learn Is just to love And be loved In return.