Les vertes années

At first when I read the blurb of this film on the viewers guide I expected another "How Green Was My Valley," which had ruined coming-of-age films for me until I saw "Breaking Away" in '79. I started watching it anyway and soon found I was hooked for the next 127 minutes.

"The Green Years" demonstrate what a better film "Kings Row" could have been if someone other than Robert Cummings had played the lead. It's basically the same story set in Scotland: both take place in isolated rural towns, both deal with mental cruelty, and both deal with overcoming your circumstances to better your life. And ironically, both feature the splendid and versatile actor Charles Coburn in pivotal roles.

The people of this village seem real here, with Hume Cronin playing the tight-lipped tightwad of an extended family who "live like they're poor out of choice." Tom Drake is fine as the older Robbie Shannon, earnest and sincere, but with an increasing sense of cynicism appropriate for the role. Richard Hayden as the headmaster that befriends Robbie adds just the right amount of sanity, humor and hope you need in a story that runs over 2 hours.

But young Dean Stockwell and Coburn are magic, especially in the scene when he and 2 drunken friends try to teach young Robbie how to box. I can't recall a relationship between 2 actors on film, one very old and the other very young, that rings as fresh and honest as their's does. I think W.C. Fields and Freddie Bartholomew in "Great Expectations" come closest.

Yes, it's episodic, and perhaps a tad too long, and Norman Lloyd is wasted as one of Cronyn's sons. But if you have an affection for this sort of film made soon after the end of WWII, you won't be disappointed.

I find this film charming. As a 1950's Dublin kid, I loved the acting, direction, script and message of this film. I agree that it is a Scottish 'How green is my Valley'. I have always felt closer to Scotland than Wales, although not understanding why! Dean Stockwell and Tom Drake are especially wonderful. Nowadays, some follow ups would be certain. I would love to follow Robert Shannon's adulthood, after this film ended. I have always been a fan of Jessica Tandy and it was great to see her as a young girl, knowing what a successful career she had. This is a warm hearted Sunday afternoon film with feel good after-shocks. I don't know if a colour remake is possible but it's a black and white classic. Enjoy!

A.J. Cronin's "The Green Years" has been splendidly brought to the screen thanks mainly by the performances of that grand old stager Charles Coburn, and that wonderful child star Dean Stockwell (what a pity he ever had to grow up!) Their scenes together are something very special even today. Coburn was nominated for best supporting actor, which was unfair, as he is clearly the star and should have had the nomination of Best Actor. As a young Cathoic lad thrown into a family of Scottish Protestants, Stockwell is quite amazing. The supporting cast of Gladys Cooper, Hume Cronyn ( a little over the top), Jessica Tandy and Richard Haydn are very very good, while Tom Drake is the best he ever was in a movie. The atmosphere of the era and the village is brilliantly captured by Director Victor Saville.

The film is based on A.J. Cronin's bestselling novel. It boasts an exemplary cast and a very evenly-written script. Venerable character actor Charles Coburn, a favorite of many, receives top billing. And true, his performance could easily dominate the movie. But the screenwriter is careful to intersperse moments of Coburn's wily great-grandfather character throughout the narrative while keeping the rest of the ensemble in focus.

The cast includes real-life husband and wife Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy (though they do not play a married couple here). It also features child actor Dean Stockwell in the first half and matinée idol Tom Drake in the second half as the young protagonist.

The Green Years pulls at our heartstrings one moment, then makes us laugh uproariously the next (usually because of Coburn's antics). But throughout the story there is a valuable lesson about the importance of making sacrifices and celebrating life's triumphs.

The title is meant to suggest several possible meanings. I urge you to view the film and discover what it means for you.

I have some strong disagreement with the category of nomination for Charles Coburn here. Most definitely he was not in a supporting role, in fact in a cast of fine players he dominates the film as the rascally old grandfather first to Dean Stockwell and then to Tom Drake in The Green Years.

It seems like A.J. Cronin can't write a novel that won't be turned into a fine film like The Citadel and The Keys Of The Kingdom. As a writer Cronin successfully blended medicine and religion into his work in Great Britain the same as Lloyd C. Douglas on this side of the pond in Magnificent Obsession.

In this story Cronin talks about the love of medicine and science acquired at an early age. Except possibly for The Boy With Green Hair I don't think Dean Stockwell was ever more appealing on the big screen. Seems like his mother ran off with of all things an Irishman and both are dead now. So young Stockwell is taken in by his Scot relative more as an obligation than anything else. They are a thrifty lot and that's putting it mildly.

The one who Stockwell bonds with is his grandfather Coburn. He's quite the rogue and known to take a dram or three with his buddies at the tavern. But he's got more character than the rest of the family put together. Eventually when Stockwell grows up to be Tom Drake and looks to be failing in his ambitions, it's Coburn who proves to be his salvation.

The Green Years hasn't lost one inch of charm and values and it's a year older than I am. Still wonderful family viewing. Scotland pre World War II is captured beautifully here with cinematography that gained the film it's only other Oscar nomination.

Poor Coburn and his fellow nominees were screwed by the Academy that year as they awarded a special Oscar to Harold Russell for his performance as the armless sailor in The Best Years Of Our Lives and then had him compete in the Best Supporting Actor category. Coburn and his fellow competitors William Demarest, Clifton Webb, and Claude Rains were at a very unfair disadvantage to Harold Russell.

Not a film to be missed for family viewing time.