Barefoot Boy (1938)

Other than using the same title this film has no connection to nor is there any film credit linking it to the poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. In this film, Kenneth Hale, a pampered, ... See full summary »

Director:

Karl Brown

Writer:

John T. Neville (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Jackie Moran, Marcia Mae Jones, Ralph Morgan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jackie Moran	...	Billy Whittaker
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Pige Blaine
Ralph Morgan	...	John Hale
Claire Windsor	...	Valerie Hale
Charles D. Brown	...	Calvin Whittaker
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Julia Blaine
Bradley Metcalfe	...	Kenneth Hale
Frank Puglia	...	Hank
Helen MacKellar	...	Martha Whittaker
Matty Fain	...	Convict
Henry Roquemore	...	Benjamin Blaine
Roger Gray	...	Dutch
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Prison Warden
Earle Hodgins	...	Sheriff
Johnnie Morris	...	Jeff Blaine

Storyline

Other than using the same title this film has no connection to nor is there any film credit linking it to the poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. In this film, Kenneth Hale, a pampered, snobbish young boy is sent by his father, John Hale, who has served time in prison for a crime he did not commit, down to the country farm of an old friend, Calvin Whittaker. The barefooted, honest and plucky Billy Whittaker, his girlfriend, Pige Bennett, and punky Kenneth get involved with a "haunted" house and a gang of crooks, while Billy helps make a "better man" out of Kenneth.

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Plot Keywords:

b movie | poverty row film | low budget film | double feature film | unjustly convicted | 

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Taglines:

Scrapping - Romancing - Gang-Busting!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film received its initial USA telecast Saturday 24 January 1942 on New York City's pioneer television station WNBT (Channel 1). Post-WWII television viewers got their first look at it Friday 6 August 1948 on WATV (Channel 13) and Monday 25 October 1948 on WCBS (Channel 2); in Chicago it first aired Thursday 27 January 1949 on WBKB (Channel 4), and, on the West Coast, in Los Angeles, it was first seen Wednesday 8 February 1950 on KTSL (Channel 2).

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Connections

Referenced in Dillinger (1945)

User Reviews

Annoying...

"Barefoot Boy" is a film that clearly demonstrates why it's in the public domain. Simply put, the film is annoying...very, very annoying. Unless you love films that star annoying pre-teens, then my advice is to avoid this one like the plague.

The film stars two boys--one a spoiled little $&!% who is simply too obviously awful to be believed. No child is that obnoxious and yet so adored by a parent!! Instead of a reasonable portrayal, it's all black & white--like a comic book. And, when this kid does horrible things, people either cover for him or resist the urge to bust him in the mouth--something I truly was hoping to see. And, it's a bad film that makes me root for child abuse!!! As far as the plot goes, it's a ridiculous mess involving the jerk kid going to live with a nice country boy, some stolen bonds, a father coming out of prison and some crooks pretending that they are ghosts. Believe me that the average Bowery Boys film is 1000% better! Bad acting, bad writing and bad direction...this one is just BAD!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

El pillete

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1