A YANK AT ETON

US, 1942, 88 minutes. Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Edmund Gwenn, Ian Hunter, Freddie Bartholomew, Marta Linden, Juanita Quigley, Alan Mowbray, Peter Lawford, Raymond Severn, Aubrey Mather, Alan Napier.
Directed by Norman Taurog.

A Yank at Eton was released in 1942, part of the war effort and the support of allies in Europe. There had been A Yank at Oxford with Robert Taylor, A Yank in the RAF with Tyrone Power. This time Mickey Rooney makes the war effort. He plays his usual mischievous Andy Hardy-like character as a young man who wants to go to Notre Dame like his All-American? father but his mother remarries in England and he has to go to Eton. Fiercely resistant at first, he makes a number of mistakes, eventually feels welcomed, has a clash with the bullying villain of the school (Peter Lawford) and finally decides to stay in England while his stepbrother (Freddie Bartholomew) goes to Notre Dame.

The film is entertaining – many people saw it as a variation on Boys’ Town which Norman Taurog had directed (and had directed Rooney in Young Tom Edison).

The supporting cast is reliable, especially Edmund Gwenn as the headmaster. Raymond Severn is a very cute little actor as Inky Weeld.

Norman Taurog won an Oscar for directing Skippy in 1931. He directed one hundred and seventy-nine films, several Martin and Lewis comedies and was the director who directed the most Elvis Presley films.

1. An entertaining comedy? Wartime drama? Morale-boosting?

2. A star vehicle for Mickey Rooney, his place in cinema of the 30s and 40s? His screen presence? Enthusiasm?

3. The United States, the background of Notre Dame? The voyage to England? The contrast with Eton? The college, the grounds? The countryside?

4. The very British tone of Eton, the students, their way of speaking, the rules, the traditions? Top hats? Their attitude towards Americans? Formal dress, meals, singing? The American reaction to the style? Adapting to it?

5. Mickey Rooney as Timothy Dennis, his age, going to college? His sporting skills? His relationship with Jane? Her intruding into the locker room to tell him about going to England? The voyage, the flirtatious girl on board? Her inconsistencies? Meeting his mother, the news of the marriage? His meeting with Roger? His agreeing with his mother to stay? Roger getting him booked into Eton in place of his dead son? His going to Eton, his reaction to the students? His stepbrother Peter and his support? The friendship with Inky and giving him his nickname? The clashes with the headmaster? The confrontation with Kenvil about his impositions on the young boys and doing jobs for him? The fight with Kenvil? Becoming popular? His plan for making money out of the jobs? The boys agreeing, the headmaster and his criticism? The party, Flossie arriving, Kenvil arriving? Flossie and her flirting with Peter, with Kenvil, Tim’s reactions? Taking her to see the horse, the build-up about the horse, its getting loose, Flossie and her behaviour? The horse having to be put down? Tim’s being upset, trying to talk to Roger? Running away, Roger finding him and bringing him back? His promise to do better? The next term, going back, knowing his Latin verbs, in cricket, his achievement? His clashes with Kenvil? Seeing Peter outside the building, finding the handkerchief, going back, pretending that he was guilty about the car crash? His packing up to go, the headmaster and his disappointment (especially after his Jefferson quotations)? The youngsters and their finding the menu, Tim going back to the club, the confrontation, the children coming in and the fight? Getting the manager to come to the school, the car and its breaking down, the driver and his chatter about the race, pushing the car, arriving just in time? His beating Kenvil? The truth being revealed? Tim and his becoming an Eton man? Mickey Rooney and his aping the English accent and style? Seeing Peter off? The hopes for Notre Dame in the future?

6. Winifred, her love for her children, marrying Roger? Roger as a reliable man? His love for Peter, the death of his other son and showing Tim the memorial? Getting Tim into Eton? The party, the horse, his putting the horse down, his disappointment, getting Tim to come back? The vindication of his kindness? His mother’s pride? Jane and her presence, with the horses, the puppies, adapting better to England?

7. Peter, his relationship with Tim, with Kenvil? The punishment for all the boys – and Tim not being punished? The truce during the holidays? Tim trying to defend Peter? Peter defending Tim? The truth, the happy ending?

8. Kenvil, the bully, Flossie, at the party? His taking the car, getting drunk, the club, the crash? Concealing the truth? The run – and his being beaten?

9. The headmaster, kindly, the traditions of Eton? His explanations, ticking off Tim? His friendliness, Jefferson? His disappointment at Tim’s behaviour?

10. The club, the manager, the clashes with the Eton boys? His being taken to the race? The garrulous driver?

11. An American version of English traditions?