Lord Jeff

Freddie Bartholomew stars as a seemingly upper crust "Lord" (Jeff Braemer) who is really an orphaned thief; suspected in an emerald necklace heist, he is sent to a navel academy and meets idealized Irish orphan Mickey Rooney (as Terry O'Mulvaney). Boy-among-the-young-men Terry Kilburn (as Albert Baker) keeps the "cute quotient" high.

Their roles are tailor-made for Mr. Bartholomew's "British upper crust" and Mr. Rooney's "Irish working lad" personas. Bartholomew is perfect as the aristocratically-guised London thief, complaining about the "wretched" hotel service and fainting during opportune moments. Bussed to a a purgatory-type sailor school (not quite a hellish reform school), he immediately clashes with Rooney. The two "child stars" contrast well, and their difficult bonding becomes the film's main source of entertainment. Rooney is much more relaxed in "Lord Jeff" than other "orphaned lad" roles; here, he exudes natural likability. Kilburn's little Albert seems out of place among the older boys, but he performs as well, and gives Bartholomew's character some much-needed appeal. Other story structure, and editing, problems weaken the running time.

Irrelevant, probably, to the film "Lord Jeff" is the status of its two stars. Bartholomew was a very popular "boy star" and Rooney was much more popular as a "teen star"; and, they made several films together. This film catches the Bartholomew near the end of his career, and Rooney beginning his most successful years. With this in mind, don't miss their mid-film fistfight!

****** Lord Jeff (6/17/38) Sam Wood ~ Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney, Terry Kilburn, Charles Coburn

In "Lord Jeff" we have it all. A very talented Freddie Bartholomew and the quick learning Mickey Rooney. The script was gold, the boys endearing, and the men in charge were human. You never lose interest in a film so masterfully done as this. This is one of those movies everyone should see. It is a good representation of 30s movie making, and its endearing story ensures that it will resonate with generations to come. That being said, the film needs to be colorized so that modern generations will watch it. Young people won't watch black and white.

Freddie Bartholomew played a sophisticated thief who worked with two adult criminals who raised him after his parents' deaths. Because of his sick upbringing, Freddie had no conscience. Despite this, when he was captured by police, he was sent to a training school for orphans, not reform school. However, despite getting a break, Freddie is a jerk and can't help but antagonize his peers--that is until he finally sees the light and turns to the side of goodness and fair play (huzzah).

This film came out the same year as BOYS TOWN and I assume one directly led to the other--as they are essentially the same film with a few changes here and there. Plus, although Mickey Rooney played a different type character, he was in both films--though in LORD JEFF he played a supporting character and Freddie Bartholomew was the lead. Heck, they even had a character in LORD JEFF that was much like Pee Wee, though fortunately, the British version did not have to die to make Freddie see the light! While this is a competent enough film, I was greatly disappointed because Charles Coburn was one of the leading characters BUT he was amazingly conventional. None of his usual pompous but charming persona is present. Apart from that, though, the film is pure late 1930s MGM family fare and is worth a look. But if you've seen BOYS TOWN, then you certainly don't need to see this, as it's just a rehash and predictably formulaic.

If you don't want to see Freddie Bartholomew as a bad guy, stay away from Lord Jeff. He plays a small-time grifter who gets sent to the merchant marines to reform his character. He's snobby and insulting, and has a bad attitude. I prefer him when he's sweeter, but I stuck with this movie for the supporting cast.

In the batch of boys arriving with Freddie to the merchant marine training school are Terry Kilburn and a very young Peter Lawford in his second movie! Terry has the cutest character in the movie, with a missing tooth (before it gets fixed, a Cockney accent, and a hopelessly optimistic and loyal personality. Mickey Rooney also takes on an accent-Irish-as he's the experienced student who helps show everyone the ropes. Charles Coburn is the no-nonsense head of the school, and Herbert Mundin is his second-in-command. Keep an eye out for Monty Woolley and Gale Sondergaard, but don't expect too much from anyone. No one's really given very much to do, and besides Terry, no one really succeeds in making the audience like him. You're better off with Boys Town or A Yank at Eton.

As another reviewer concluded, this film is very much like Boys Town and even features Mickey Rooney. However, this time, the troubled teen is Freddie Bartholomew as Jeff Braemer. Jeff is involved with a group of jewel thieves, but after being caught, is sent to a orphan school to learn to be a merchant marine. Jeff's rich life has left him jaded and uncooperative, but schoolmates Terry O'Mulvaney (Rooney) and Albert Baker (Terry Kilburn) refuse to give up on him.

The excellent cast makes this film worth watching many times over. There are lessons learned and friends made, but none of those things would be effective if it weren't for believable and likable characters. The subject matter is appropriate for all ages too. Sit down and enjoy this one with the family.