Pequeno Petulante

Kind of a combination of two mediocre, sentimental films..."Captains Courageous" and "Boys Town"...which, not surprisingly, results in a third mediocre, sentimental film. Give it a C.

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.

A young & talented thief, masquerading as the obnoxious LORD JEFF, is captured and sent to a naval school to rehabilitate. There he meets an Irish lad, whose decent behavior has a profound effect upon him.

Think CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS meets BOYS TOWN, and you have an idea of this good, but unremarkable, little picture. Freddie Bartholomew, coming to the end of his glory days as MGM's reigning child star, is hampered mightily by the fact that his character is so rotten, the audience has an overwhelming desire to loathe him for most of the film. Mickey Rooney, on the other hand, right on the cusp of his tremendous stardom, steals his every scene with his unique & infectious bravado. Notice that the boys get equal billing. That would not happen again. Rooney was the major star from here on out.

The rest of the cast all do a fine job, especially Charles Colburn, Herbert Mundin & Emma Dunn, all memorable as supervisors at the naval school. That's Monty Woolley, soon to be an important character actor, as a London jeweler. Gale Sondergaard (in good disguise) & George Zucco have small roles as the adult thieves, while Terry Kilburn (nicely effective) & Peter Lawford play two of the young fellows.

Movie mavens will recognize Rex Evans as the hotel doorman & Doris Lloyd as the hostess of a party the boys attend.

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.