Too Young the Hero

There are several troubling components of this movie other than the criticism that Shroder was not 12 years old when playing the role. This lad enlisted fraudently as did many other under-aged enlistees in World War 2. Some because of patriotism but in the case of this boy it was because of economic deprivation. He performed his war duties well enough to be awarded citations for bravery. Due to some bureaucratic foul-up he was jailed when returning from leave for desertion. The sad part of this story is that he was raped while in the brig and even the chaplain admitted he was not authorized to write to family members indicating where he was. A fellow prisoner upon release did courageously call the victim's sister and she contacted a local paper to secure his release. But the final absurdity is seen when an officer tells the released victim to not divulge what happened to him. The navy did not want its dirty wash shown to the world.

When you see Rick in the film it's easy to understand that it is impossible to be a 12 years old boy. I think he is around 20 in the film but the director may used this actor because he though that this was the only that he could find and fit for the role. Of course some things in the movie never happened but they were created so the film could be success. I hoped that films like that would be produced even today. As an overview of the film its shows the World War II at the side of U.S. Navy through the eyes of a young boy.

Calvin wanted to join the military service in part because he wanted to serve his country like the older boys (or young men) and in part because he had no real place to live or means of support. Considering how hard boot camp can be on an "of age" enlistee or draftee, imagine then what it must have been like for a 12-year-old boy. Yet he persevered, he endured, he survived, perhaps in part because his family circumstances had really not made it possible for him to be a child for very long. He had been picking cotton in the fields when he was five; he was much more a grownup than what we think of a 12 year old being now.

I thought Rick Schroder did a really good job of playing the role of Calvin. Actually it was a kind of turnabout - while Calvin was 12 and had to pass himself off as 17, Schroder was 17 and had to pass for 12.

Some have pointed out 'how could the military not have known he was only 12?'. At least one other reviewer pointed out that his teeth would have been a giveaway, well in fact the movie covered that. When Calvin was getting his dental exam the dentist immediately caught that he was only about 12. "You don't even have your 12-year molars yet, you've still got baby teeth!" He handed Calvin his folder and told him to take it to a sergeant to be sent home; instead, when the dentist turned away for a moment, Calvin replaced his folder on the stack and said nothing to anyone. He was past that problem neatly.

There's more to the story than can or should be shared here. I can only say I found it very interesting and I think this most unusual true story bears watching, and Calvin bears our remembering.

I really thought this was a good war and autobiographical film. I found the story of Calvin Graham to be interesting and tragic. While the movie may've taken a few liberties in the source material I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have to admit there were times where I got angry over the injustice Calvin and is brother had to go through. Their homelife is less than ideal and most of the people they have to deal with are terrible and at the very least apathetic. Calvin Graham (Rick Schroeder) dreams of serving his country and is too anxious to wait until he reaches the enlistment age. Eager to fight he lies about his age and enlist. After dealing with boot camp, bullies, and a rough sea life, he proves himself during an attack and is awarded for his bravery until his true age is discovered where he gets sent to the brig.

Most of the story's told through flashbacks during his time in the brig. From his life prior to enlisting as a sailor. Probably one of the most infuriating scenes is when 2 drunk sailors try to rape him and he ends up lying about his injury to the nurse afterwards in embarressment. I felt like he should've told the truth but I digress. For all of his hardships he does befriend another sailor who looks out for him. The acting and dialouge were great. When a line's spoken it's done with conviction sometimes poigantly. The way the characters act is mostly understandable though most of the actions of the adults will make you angry and even sad at the same time.

I won't give away the ending but it's bittersweet to say the least. "Too Young the Hero" is a great war drama. It's tragic and bitter at times yet still hopeful. In a world that can be very mean-spirited (and understandably so) during a crisis, there's still hope and this movie shows it. If you like war movies and underdog stories than I highly recommend this. What also makes this great is Rick Schroder as Calvin Graham. He really balances the adventurous side of being a teen while also knowing when to be sad or angry at the injustice he has to constantly face. So yeah, check this movie out.

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.