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Too Young the Hero

  • TV Movie
  • 1988
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
526
YOUR RATING
Too Young the Hero (1988)
BiographyDramaWar

The true story of Calvin Graham who at the age of twelve, but looking quite a lot older, succeeded in joining the navy during World War II. In spite of his young age, he received a Purple He... Read allThe true story of Calvin Graham who at the age of twelve, but looking quite a lot older, succeeded in joining the navy during World War II. In spite of his young age, he received a Purple Heart for his bravery in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. When he reported back to his unit ... Read allThe true story of Calvin Graham who at the age of twelve, but looking quite a lot older, succeeded in joining the navy during World War II. In spite of his young age, he received a Purple Heart for his bravery in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. When he reported back to his unit after leave, his world collapsed. Due to a misunderstanding he is reported as a deserter, ... Read all

  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writers
    • Calvin Graham
    • Gary Thomas
    • David J. Kinghorn
  • Stars
    • Ricky Schroder
    • Jon DeVries
    • Debra Mooney
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    526
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • Calvin Graham
      • Gary Thomas
      • David J. Kinghorn
    • Stars
      • Ricky Schroder
      • Jon DeVries
      • Debra Mooney
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos

    Too Young the Hero (1988)
    Too Young the Hero (1988)
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    Top cast

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    Ricky Schroder
    Ricky Schroder
    • Calvin Graham
    Jon DeVries
    • Captain Gatch
    • (as Jon De Vries)
    Debra Mooney
    Debra Mooney
    • Calvin's Mother
    Rick Warner
    • Holbrook
    Tom Wood
    Tom Wood
    • Davy Cluff
    • (as Thomas Mills Wood)
    Christopher Curry
    Christopher Curry
    • Laslo
    John Linton
    • Scotty Bloxom
    Markus Flanagan
    Markus Flanagan
    • Sparky
    David Gianopoulos
    David Gianopoulos
    • MacBride
    Shelley Reid
    Shelley Reid
    • Cracker
    • (as Ron Shelley)
    Christopher Yohe
    Christopher Yohe
    • Frank
    • (as Christopher Yore)
    Terry Loughlin
    Terry Loughlin
    • Necker
    Thomas McGovern
    • Turkel
    Carl Mueller
    • Shriver
    Mert Hatfield
    Mert Hatfield
    • Harry
    James Eric
    • Pratt
    David Frisinger
    • Spencer
    Christofer de Oni
    • Avila
    • (as Christopher De Oni)
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • Calvin Graham
      • Gary Thomas
      • David J. Kinghorn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The siblings of Calvin depicted in the movie, "Pearl" and "Frank" were actual real siblings of the real Calvin Graham. Pearl's married name, "Spencer" however was fictionalized. There were Seven Graham Children altogether.

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    The U.S. Navy couldn't tell they had a 12 yr old kid on their hands?
    The makers of this made for TV film of course had a tough call when it came to casting the part of the principal character Calvin Graham. They had to find a professional actor who could pass for a 12 yr old who just happened to look a little older (at least 17). They chose Rick Schroder who was 18 at the time this film was made which in my opinion is pretty close. The film is certainly not of Oscar caliber as most made for TV films are but it isn't all that bad. If it does nothing else it at least tells yet another chapter of the U.S. in WWII. This time the story of underage boys who managed to get in the service. It is hard however to believe that the U.S. Navy could not detect the fact that this was just a 12 yr old kid. In most of the other cases it involved 15 and 16 yr olds passing for 17. It shows in the film how he got past his induction physical but once in basic training at additional physicals and dental exams he would have been detected by qualified medical and dental personnel and sent home. So as a Naval veteran myself it left me with the feeling that the Navy knew they had a way underage boy on their hands and decided to look the other way on it until the heat came down on them as they always seem to do. I was not surprised in the least however at how the Navy handled the affair once it was unmasked. Aside from the true tale of this the film is not bad and has the always enjoyable human interest side to it to help it along.
    helpful•12
    5
    • yenlo
    • Oct 31, 2003

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 27, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zu jung, ein Held zu sein
    • Filming locations
      • Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Rick-Dawn Enterprises
      • Pierre Cossette Enterprises
      • Landsburg Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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