ITS GREAT TO BE YOUNG

UK, 1956, 93 minutes, Colour.
John Mills, Cecil Parker, Jeremy Spenser, Dorothy Bromiley, Mona Washbourne.
Directed by Cyril Frankel.

It's Great to be Young is an energetic film about young people in 1956. It came out just at the beginning of the rock 'n roll era. Many critics wonder whether British children, especially at such an upper-crust school as is portrayed in the film, would lead such a revolution against the headmaster. The script is by Ted Willis a prolific playwright and screenwriter of the time (Woman in a Dressing Gown).

John Mills is the music teacher, an enthusiast for his band. Cecil Parker is the new headmaster, portraying Cecil Parker as usual. However, despite his strict discipline and seeming insensitivity to the staff and students, deep down he has a sympathetic personality which is borne out at the end. Needless to say there are sketches of other sympathetic teachers and school assistants as well as an obnoxious tale-teller. Jeremy Spenser (Prelude to Fame, The Prince and the Showgirl) is the head prefect. There are some songs of the period, plenty of music, an agreeable look at a more respectable side of such films as The Happiest Days of Your Life and the St Trinians films.

1. A pleasant film about kids at school? The state of education? The importance of the music? Extra-curricular activity?

2. The 1956 setting, the upper-crust school, the manners of the students, the fact that they would move into revolution against the headmaster? Credible or not? The musical style of the period? Classics, popular music, songs? The staging of the musical performance in the town centre?

3. The title indicating the exuberance of the film? Mr Dingle as young at heart? The headmaster having to learn to be young at heart?

4. Mr Dingle, his history classes, music and the band? Happy-go-lucky? The encounter with the new principal, the cutting back of the classes, not being able to buy the instruments - but getting a contract through the father of one of the boys? The rehearsals? Pleading with the headmaster? The taking of the instruments from their hiding place? His playing in the pub, people enjoying his music, getting the extra money to pay the cost of the instruments? His being reported to the headmaster, his being sacked? The headmaster's admiration of his teaching abilities? The reaction of the children, his coming back, reprimanding them, telling them that they should act as a team? His being reinstated - and the success of the band?

5. The headmaster, new, the first assembly, stern, his explanation of football, his wanting academic standards to be raised, extra-curricular activities to be lessened? His encounters with Mr Dingle, his not liking jazz? Admiring Mr Dingle but threatening the sack? The instruments, the salesman coming to try to persuade him to buy an organ? Hearing about Mr Dingle playing in the pub, dismissing him? The siege by the children, his not wanting to hear another word, their strategy of silence? His eventually going to them, the discussions? Reinstating Mr Dingle, his being carried by the students in triumph at the end?

6. The other staff, the sports master? The women on the staff and their interest in the children? Those who were subservient to the headmaster?

7. The children, Nicky and his leadership, in class, trying to work out how to get money for the band, the performances in the town and their being moved on, the spectacular song and dance in the town? The relationship with Paulette? His leading the revolution, the strategy of silence? The appeal by Mr Dingle? Paulette, her being torn between the two boys, asking Mr Dingle for his advice? The other children, the young boy and his playing the instrument, being on the lookout, being hungry?

8. The revolution, the placards, the boycotting of classes, the march-past in silence, the siege, the food being thrown in, children from other schools?

9. Popular impressions of The Happiest Days of Your Life? Teachers, students, clashes? And a happy ending?