The Spirit of Culver

During the heart of the Great Depression, Andy Devine runs a soup kitchen for homeless kids. His heart goes out to one tough boy, Jackie Cooper, when he learns his father was an old army buddy who died in the war and received the Medal of Honor. He talks to his friends that run a military academy and they agree to award Jackie a scholarship to honor his father. Jackie's not too keen on the idea of charity, but he is glad to have a roof over his head and three meals a day.

His roommate at school is Freddie Bartholomew, someone very excited to be there but sometimes ridiculed because of his English upbringing. Gene Reynolds is another student, and he's very homesick. Everyone dislikes Jackie, but when he starts to change his mind and appreciate his education and training, is it too late for his fellow cadets to change their minds about him?

This is a cute, heartwarming movie if you're a fan of the two adorable child actors Jackie and Freddie. Freddie still has his sweet innocence and Jackie still has his tearful pout, but they're both a little older in this movie. Freddie has a huge crush on a nightclub singer, and Jackie enters the boxing ring to settle a dispute. If you like this one, check out The Devil Is a Sissy or Dinky next!

It's the Depression; we're greeted with scenes of men and kids jumping from train to train, standing in breadlines trying to get by. These kids are tough, world-weary brats with smart mouths but good hearts underneath. Jackie Cooper stands in line for soup and bread and gets himself a job working with Tubby (Andy Devine) as a dishwasher. What he lacks in manners he makes up for in hard work, and soon Tubby learns that this kid is Doc Allen's son, a medic he knew during the war. Tom (Cooper) carries his father's medal around, "But you can't eat it," he says. Tubby's respect for Doc Allen leads him to get Tom a scholarship to go to Culver, a military school where he can excel.

Tom takes time to warm up to the other kids, especially his roommate Bob (Freddie Bartholomew) but when he does he does wholeheartedly and soon he's a "gee whiz"-saying, uniform-wearing, cake-sharing member of the gang. And then Doc Allen shows up looking dazed and hungry to Tubby's station, and a wrench is thrown in the whole set-up.

If you like child stars and MGM's brand of idealism, you'll love this movie. It isn't a classic but it isn't bad, and it features some great stars.