Chris Cleary Miles: "Second Best"
From the liner notes: "The boy is torn between loyalty to his convict father and his growing attachment to Graham. Together, Graham and James discover families aren't born, they're made. One risk, one joy, one act of trust at a time."
The video clip at left occurs when James is shown his room and has tea with Graham for the first time.
You will want to watch this one again and again, and will need to watch it at least a few times to understand all the dialogue-- much of it has a heavy Welsh accent. There is no nudity or sex-- the PG-13 rating probably comes from the violent scenes in some of James's 'flashbacks'.
Peter gets off to a good start at his new school and things seem to be going well. Before he finds out for certain that his parents were killed while trying to save other children in England, he joins his class in a clothing drive for the orphans. Then, disaster seemingly strikes-- one morning after his bath, he discovers his hair has suddenly turned green!
The video clip at left shows that boys enjoyed singing even back then, and the utter surprise when Peter sees his green hair in the mirror for the first time.
Peter soon learns from a supernatural meeting in the forest with other war orphans-- that he has been given a unique opportunity to tell the world that war is bad for children... and everyone else. George Feist of California said of this movie: "I saw this movie in Panama, where I was born, at the movie theater when I was 8 years old. The images of the movie and its message has stayed with me all these years. Other people can be cruel if you are different. Being different is NOT a bad thing. Live with it and use it to your advantage."
It is possible that this movie is still in some rental stores; it is shown very infrequently on TV; may be available on VHS from Cinema Classics (212-677-6309), and is available 'somewhere' on NTSC Laserdisc. There is no profanity, sex, or violence. Filmed in 1948 by RKO Radio Pictures.
Zachary Bennett, Noah Godfrey:
"Looking for Miracles"
At the height of the Depression in Canada, 16-year-old Ryan is determined to find work to finance his college education. Much to his dismay, he winds up as a camp counselor who has to bring along his little brother, Sullivan.
Being the head counselor's little brother is pure torment for Sullivan. But his worst boy enemy at camp, "Ratface", eventually becomes his friend-- after they discover how much they have in common.
The RealVideo clip at left shows the first moments of nonviolent talk between the two boys, initiated by Sullivan when he discovers that neither he nor Ratface had any parents come to camp.
Canadians make great movies, and this one not only illustrates what it is like to be poor, but also explores peer relationships and the rewards of true friendship. There is mild profanity-- just the words kids usually say when adults are not around.
Brandon De Wilde: "Shane"
The unique ingredient is Shane's role as a non-family adult hero to young Joey Starrett. And it must be said that Joey's father is willing to share the boy's love probably more than would be allowed in typical families today.
My video clip link at left will take you to the first fight which is about to take place after Shane decides he can no longer 'turn the other cheek'.
A reviewer for the IMDb movies site wrote: "I did ... find Shane to be one of those movies that puts you 100% behind the good guy ... and 100% against the bad guy ... I find that too many movies today don't provide a tough case to not like the bad guy and therefore when he loses, we are really indifferent about it. The relationship between Shane and the boy is one of those great themes that has been copied many times after, but has never been truly matched."
(Brandon was killed in a vehicle accident near Denver, Colorado, when he was just 30 years old.)
And: "The Member Of The Wedding"
The plot is that of a 12-year-old girl who has been struck by the worst case of adolescent craziness. Her peers have dumped her (possibly because of her constant talking and questionable attitude). She unloads (for most of the movie) on Bernice, the family's housekeeper. Frankie's plan is to to run away with her older brother and his new wife just as soon as the rice hits the air!
The video clip linked at left takes you to the scene when Frankie ends one of her lengthy diatribes on life. Little John Henry then suddenly starts the trio singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". The room continues to darken as they sing. You need to experience this movie just to see if it depresses you as badly as it did me. John Henry's role was very realistic for boys of that age-- at times acting silly, jealous, curious, and even contemplative.
Joseph Ashton:
"The Education of Little Tree"
Like all good grandparents, Little Tree's teach him from their experiences. They live too far away for him to be in the area public school. They go to church every Sunday, but can just barely tolerate the shouting and the 'politicians' the preacher invites to speak.
Child welfare finally catches up with Little Tree after a complaint is filed by a vengeful relative.
The boy is sent to a boarding school where the staff is a mixture of the kind-hearted and of some who beat the children first and ask questions later.
I found Little Tree's means of 'contacting' his grandparents and best friend (when he is placed in solitary confinement and finally admits he can take no more) to be unique, inspiring, and certainly as plausible as angels or Heaven. My selected video clip (click on picture at left) comes from a before-church encounter: Little Tree has captured a frog for a gift to his old friend Willow John, who recently gave the boy a knife. After a brief discussion of the frog's merits as a gift, the boy suddenly must explain what happened to a young calf which he had been tricked into buying for fifty cents.
An Amazon.com reviewer from Salt Lake City said, "Wonderfully photographed, expertly directed and acted. The message is simple but true: Help each other through life with love and respect. A rare family movie. Some profanity but not gratuitous. Historically real and enlightening. Some scenes might be frightening to small children. It's been a long time since a movie has moved me like this one did. I think anyone eight years and older could appreciate this richly done story." Siskel & Ebert said, "Two thumbs up, way up." I agree! The film does present 'moonshining' as an accepted way of life, as it was and still is in some areas of the country.
