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IMDbPro

The Boy with Green Hair

  • 19481948
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Dean Stockwell in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer0:52
1 Video
19 Photos
ComedyDramaFamily
This parable looks at public reaction when the hair of an American war orphan mysteriously turns green.This parable looks at public reaction when the hair of an American war orphan mysteriously turns green.This parable looks at public reaction when the hair of an American war orphan mysteriously turns green.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph Losey
  • Writers
    • Ben Barzman(screen play)
    • Alfred Lewis Levitt(screen play)
    • Betzi Beaton(story)
  • Stars
    • Pat O'Brien
    • Robert Ryan
    • Barbara Hale
  • Director
    • Joseph Losey
  • Writers
    • Ben Barzman(screen play)
    • Alfred Lewis Levitt(screen play)
    • Betzi Beaton(story)
  • Stars
    • Pat O'Brien
    • Robert Ryan
    • Barbara Hale
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 63User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:52
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos19

    Dean Stockwell in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell and Pat O'Brien in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell and Robert Ryan in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell, Pat O'Brien, Samuel S. Hinds, and Regis Toomey in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell, Pat O'Brien, and Barbara Hale in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell and Pat O'Brien in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell and Regis Toomey in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
    Dean Stockwell and Pat O'Brien in The Boy with Green Hair (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Pat O'Brien
    Pat O'Brien
    • Gramp
    Robert Ryan
    Robert Ryan
    • Dr. Evans
    Barbara Hale
    Barbara Hale
    • Miss Brand
    Dean Stockwell
    Dean Stockwell
    • Peter
    Richard Lyon
    Richard Lyon
    • Michael
    Walter Catlett
    Walter Catlett
    • The King
    Samuel S. Hinds
    Samuel S. Hinds
    • Dr. Knudson
    Regis Toomey
    Regis Toomey
    • Mr. Davis
    Charles Meredith
    Charles Meredith
    • Mr. Piper
    David Clarke
    David Clarke
    • Barber
    Billy Sheffield
    • Red
    Johnny Calkins
    Johnny Calkins
    • Danny
    • (as John Calkins)
    Teddy Infuhr
    Teddy Infuhr
    • Timmy
    Dwayne Hickman
    Dwayne Hickman
    • Joey
    Eilene Janssen
    Eilene Janssen
    • Peggy
    Curtis Loys Jackson Jr.
    • Classmate
    • (as Curtis Jackson)
    Charles Arnt
    Charles Arnt
    • Mr. Hammond
    Peter Brocco
    Peter Brocco
    • Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joseph Losey
    • Writers
      • Ben Barzman(screen play)
      • Alfred Lewis Levitt(screen play)
      • Betzi Beaton(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The cue ring, or dot (usually referred to as a "cigarette burn"), which indicates to the projectionist it's time to change the reel, is green, instead of its usual black color.
    • Goofs
      When the barber is preparing to cut his hair, a close-up shot shows a chunk of cut hair on his right side. Then when the barber begins cutting, it's not there. But re-appears for the next close-up of him crying.
    • Quotes

      Peter: But they don't know that. They think everybody has to get killed. The world doesn't have to be blown up.

    • Crazy credits
      Dean Stockwell is credited simply as "The Boy" in the opening credits and as "Peter" in the end credits complete cast of characters.
    • Connections
      Featured in Precious Images (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Nature Boy
      by Eden Ahbez (as eden ahbez)

      Sung behind credits by chorus

    User reviews63

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A buried treasure, and a film ahead of its time
    It would be an obvious point to state that "The Boy with Green Hair" is one of the most touching fantasies ever put on film, for indeed it is that. But, over and above that, it's a movie which states that being different is all right. That and its pacifistic message made it a film very much ahead of its time and, thus, its reputation as a classic caught up with it over the years.

    All of the performances are excellent. Dean Stockwell is probably best known to a later generation as the star of "Blue Velvet" and "Quantum Leap." But his best role came at the age of twelve with this film. In an understated yet powerful way, he's very believeable as the young war orphan, living with his grandfather, who is at first bewildered by his sudden change on hair color (Well, wouldn't YOU be?), but eventually comes to accept it and what it means, hoping his hair, which has been shaved off by superstitious townspeople, comes back green. Pat O'Brien, underplaying more than was usually his wont, gives a charming, yet insightful, performance as his kindly grandfather, a former vaudeville entertainer turned singing waiter. Robert Ryan, forsaking his usual villainous roles, is the child psychologist who helps Stockwell make sense of it all. And those who know Barbara hale primarily as either "Della Street" on the "Perry Mason" shows, the "Amana" lady, or William Katt's real-life mother, gives a brief but believable performance as Stockwell's sympathetic teacher.

    Joseph Losey was the far-sighted director who brought all this to the screen. Unfortunately, the "dare to be different" and "give peace a chance" aspects of the story would work against him just a few years later, when he was blacklisted. All but unemployable in America, he continued his career in England, and the results, usually in collaboration with screenwriter Harold Pinter, were such critical, if not popular, successes, as "The Servant" and "The Go-Between."

    In short, this an underseen film that deserves to be seen more often. These days it's frequently on AMC, so catch it.
    helpful•69
    8
    • BobLib
    • Jan 28, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 1948 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Junge mit den grünen Haaren
    • Filming locations
      • McKinley Home for Boys - 13840 Riverside Drive, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA(school exterior)
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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