This is the first of half a dozen adaptations for the big and little screens of Thomas Hughes fictionalized memoirs of Rugby school. It certainly covers more of the story than the 1940 RKO version; it includes the subplot of Tom's sister who marries without his father's consent. It is well performed by its cast in the style of the period, with all the boys -- most of whom are considerably older than their characters -- trying to be manly.
The weakness in this feature, however, is one common to many early screen adaptations: it presupposes the audience's familiarity with the book, reducing the movie to a series of incidents, highlighted by the occasional battle, first with 27-year-old Laurie Leslie as Flashman, whose face appears to have been scarred in a knife fight, then with Mr. Canielli as Slogger Williams. The only linkage that provides a clear plot is the story of Tom's sister, which reappears regularly for a total of four references.
The camerawork under Silvano Balboni is handsome, if static. Although that may be a result of the print, it appears to be done in the "Lasky Lighting" style. The net result is a decent if slightly old-fashioned movie for 1916, more interesting for its place in history than as a movie in its own right.
