The Happy Years (1950)

Good concept, poorly executed.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

In 1896 New Jersey, wealthy small city editor Leon Ames (as Samuel H. Stover) learns delinquent Dean Stockwell (as John Humperdink Stover) has just been "fired" (expelled) from school, for blowing up the chemistry lab. At home, young teenage Stockwell paints a snooty neighbor's prize horse green (don't adjust your color, it does look blue). Described as both a "heathen" and an "anarchist," Stockwell is sent to picturesque "Lawrenceville School" where he plans to "own" the school. After a stimulating buggy ride, the binding around Stockwell's suitcase magically disappears - causing his belongings to spill out in front of six house-mates, posed by director William A. Wellman to block his entrance to "Green House"...All bigger than Stockwell, the laughing delinquents are led by bully Darryl Hickman (as George "Tough" McCarty), who is caressing a pussycat. In all likelihood, director Wellman is having some fun with this assignment. Also note Stockwell's roommate Danny Mummert (as "Butsey" White) is quite logically introduced from their bedroom window, rather than on the stoop. The four other lads are Alan Dinehart III (as "The Coffee Colored Angel"), David Bair (as "The White Mountain Canary"), Jerry Mickelsen (as "Cheyenne" Baxter), Eddie LeRoy (as "Polar" Beckstein) - they don't have a lot to do, but the nicknames are great. Determining Stockwell is not there to sell "removable underwear," Mr. Hickman dubs him "Dink"...Stockwell has a rough year, but does receive some sympathy from roommate Mummert. Another friendship is formed when Stockwell meets school-skipping Scotty Beckett (as "The Tennessee Shad"). Playing his entire part with a toothpick in his mouth, Mr. Beckett looks like his just walked out of a Norman Rockwell painting. After a bizarre summer vacation - wherein Stockwell and his rich friends play a surreal joke on young Elinor Donahue (as Connie Brown) and some other girls while the black-eyed director's son Tim tolls church bells - Stockwell will join Beckett at "Kennedy House" and finally resolve his Hickman problem. And in 1897's class, we meet hungry Little "Big Man" Donn Gift (as Joshua Montgomery Sneed)...Wise Leo G. Carroll teaches us all a lesson as house-master Hopkins ("The Old Roman"), and Wellman maneuvers the young actors exceptionally well. Working with his award-winning "Battleground" photographer Paul C. Vogel and the MGM team, Wellman handles "The Happy Years" like he's bringing a turn of the century painting to life. It exudes a Norman Rockwell quality, shot in beautiful Technicolor - without looking real, it appears authentic. Drawing from his youthful experiences and adult directorial skills, Wellman stages scenes with skillful simplicity. Never given the power and glory of 1890s peers like John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock, director Wellman could make classics out of arguably unlikely assignments, like this...********* The Happy Years (7/7/50) William A. Wellman ~ Dean Stockwell, Darryl Hickman, Scotty Beckett, Leo G. Carroll

I attended the Lawrenceville School in the 1970's and 80's. The school had changed in many ways, but there were many things that were still true about the school. The film itself was well done. The Cinematography, acting, and screenplay were especially memorable. In fact, the child actors created one of the best ensembles I have ever seen in a movie about children. I wasn't impressed with the adults except Leo G. Carroll who as always did an exceptional job in the role of 'The Old Roman'. The 40's Technicolor made every frame look like a postcard. Unfortunately, the film was lost for many years, thought to be destroyed in the MGM fire, but it was rediscovered while I attended Lawrenceville. The film is rarely seen on television and has never appeared on video as far as I know. By the way, Gerunds and Gerundives in Latin are not as difficult to distinguish as the screenplay makes out, but it made for some great scenes.

This film is vintage Dean Stockwell as a child actor and is certainly representative of the outstanding performance he invariably produced. The supporting cast is equally as strong. Leon Ames, Leo G. Carroll and Dwayne Hickman are pure delight, and Wellman's direction is spot on as always. The plot is rather rambling, but that really seems only to add to its charm. These are the adventures (and mis-adventures) of some turn-of-the-century prep school boys as remembered by Owen Johnson in his novel THE LAWRENCEVILLE STORIES. The movie is as warm-hearted, funny, and thoroughly engaging as the original book. About 1988 this film was remade as a TV mini-series, using the same title as the book. The complete mini-series was made available about 1992 as a double-cassette VHS recording. But, alas, it seems no one wants to resurrect THE HAPPY YEARS, more's the pity. I, for one, would snap up a copy on either VHS or DVD instantly. Any takers out there, video producers?

Great Dean Stockwell coming of age, and this is one of his best roles.Stockwell plays a rebellious, wisecracking schoolboy at odds with the world. The film captures a slice of early 20th century Americana through precocious teens at prep school discovering sports, academia, and of course, girls. Funny and touching, with a great cast and story that even connects today. Leo G. Carroll as a nemesis teacher is excellent, and the antics of the "Tennessee Shad" are still being copied in similar themed films.