LORD JEFF

US, 1938, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney, Charles Coburn, Gale Sondegaard, Terry Kilburn, Peter Lawford, Herbert Mundin, George Zucco, Monty Woolley, Walter Kingsford.
Directed by Sam Wood.

Lord Jeff is not as well known as it might be because of Freddie Bartholomew’s not following through as an adult star after such films as A Tale of Two Cities, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Captains Courageous. In fact, it was Mickey Rooney, supporting Freddie Bartholomew this film, who was already making the Hardy films and was to become a celebrated entertainer (until his death at the age of 93 in 2014). However, not everybody will be persuaded by his Irish accent.

Captains Courageous had been a successful film of 1937, the Spencer Tracy winning an Oscar. Tracy was to win an Oscar in the next year for Boys Town, which starred Mickey Rooney in a somewhat equivalent rebellious role as Lord Jeff here. The film also stars Charles Coburn, in his 60s at this stage, but looking the same as in later roles, his Oscar-winning performance in The More the Merrier as well as in the 1950s with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to be Very, Very Popular.

The villains are played by Gale Sondegaard, who had won an Oscar two years before for Anthony Adverse, and George Zucco. Two of the boys are played by a very young Peter Lawford and Terry Kilburn, so effective in Goodbye, Mr Chips.

The film was directed by Sam Wood, who had made A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races with the Marx Bros and was to go on to make such serious classics as Goodbye, Mr Chips, Kings Row, For Whom The Bell Tolls.

In the final credits, Freddie Batholomew is credited as Geoffrey, not Jeffrey.

1. An MGM entertainment of the 1930s? Released in the same year as Boys Town, the year after Captains Courageous? Echoes of both these films?

2. MGM production values, the English settings, the cast of characters, the young actors who would emerge in star roles? The musical score? The prestigious director?

3. The film dedicated to Dr Barnardo, the work in his homes, rehabilitation of young boys?

4. The title, the irony, the behaviour of Geoffrey in the hotel, rude to people, with his nanny, in the jeweller’s shop, the rigmarole of buying a gift for his mother, the man admiring the necklace, Jeffrey’s collapse, the robbery, his return to the hotel?

5. The police investigation, the disappearance of Doris and her accomplice, his lies, his ignorance about India, Calcutta and Darjeeling, his going before the magistrate, his being sentenced to go to the boys’ home?

6. His character, snobbish, arrival, looking down on the boys, Crusty and the review? Captain Briggs? The dormitory, upset at the dormitory? The meeting with Terry, Terry trying to look after him, his rude responses? Albert and his friendship?

7. The routines, the lessons, the exercises? The meals? Geoffrey not eating? Reluctantly following? Clashes with Terry? His running away, Terry pursuing him, bringing him back, Terry’s loss of status, Geoffrey not owning up?

8. Terry, Mickey Rooney with an Irish accent? His character, with the other boys, trying to help Geoffrey? The possibility of berths on the Queen Mary? Everybody trying?

9. The characters of the other boys, friendships, collaboration? Turning against Geoffrey and giving him “the chill”?

10. Captain Briggs, Terry and his being caught, refusing to tell the truth, losing his rank, but still trying?

11. Crusty and his pessimistic outlook on the boys, changing, taking a shine to Geoffrey, trying to help him, advise him? Asking him to be the cox for the rowing?

12. Geoffrey, the effect of the chill, accepting it, becoming the cox, his work for the rowing, the competition and winning the race, the cup and the acclaim?

13. His going to Captain Briggs, telling the truth, friendship with Terry, Terry shaking hands, the boys accepting him?

14. Going to the Queen Mary, the background of the party and Doris hiding the necklace in Geoffry’s uniform, its being discovered by the nurse, Geoffrey and his telling the truth, Terry on board, seeing Doris and his associate, trapping them, the arrest?

15. Geoffrey reinstated and the boys going on the Queen Mary?