THE HAPPY YEARS

US, 1950, 110 minutes, Colour.
Dean Stockwell Daryl Hickman, Scotty Beckett, Leon Ames, Margalo Gilmore, Leo G. Caroll.
Directed by William A.Wellman.

The Happy Years is one of those stories about 19th-century education in boys’ boarding schools – a bit like Tom Brown’s Schooldays, and not, particularly because it is so American.

The film was directed by William G.Wellman, who directed the first Oscar-winning film, Wings, He had an aviation background in World War I and moved into films, often having an aviation theme like The High and the Mighty as well as Lafayette Escadrille. He also directed many westerns as well as directing the first version of A Star is Born.

The film was quite colourful, humorous in its tone, offering the picture of the ideal affluent 19th-century family, the place of the boarding school in developing character, classes, with an emphasis on Latin, as well as American football and rivalry with other colleges.

The film is a star vehicle for Dean Stockwell who had appeared in a number of top-ranking films including The Green Years and The Boy with Green Hair. After he finished his education, he continued to be an actor for the next 60 years.

1. A 19th-century story, a piece of Americana? Family, education, growing up, responsibility?

2. The title, based on a group of short stories about Lawrenceville? The role of school, boarding school, all boys school, clashes, discipline, sport, classes, Latin, the bonds between the boys, growth of responsibility and honour, not cheating, collaboration and growing up?

3. The director, his aviation background, westerns and dramas – this film as being quite different? The credits, the fashion sketches, indication of the period, the late 19th century, sport…? Costumes and decor? The musical score?

4. The parents, father running the paper, writing the article about his son, his son’s pranks and lack of discipline, the phone calls to the office, father going home, the boy being expelled? Painting the horse green, blowing up the building? The threats? John and his relationship to his parents? To his brother? The clashes with his sister? Defiant and smart?

5. John, going to school, driving in the carriage, making up stories, his parent’s death, the teacher listening, John and his bravado, the horses and the carriage, promising to ginger up the school?

6. Meeting the boys, bowing and being polite, his room, his roommate, Tough and the other boys?

7. His attitude of defiance, fighting, falling back into the water many times, the continued feud with Tough? Sport, the Roman and his attitude towards John, carrying the water, John refusing, the tackling, the teacher’s intentions?

8. Classes, gerunds and gerundives, the texts, reading and translating? The Great Big Man and his intelligence, his help?

9. The promise of the pancake house to give pancakes all day if the record was broken? John setting up the Great Big Man, his eating more than the record, his getting a new name Hungry, the owners, supplying the pancakes, the whole school rushing to the house?

10. Sport, American football, John small, the squad, invited to play, the relationship of success in sport to studies? The groups in the houses, John and his relationship to each of the boys, his roommate, the fights and clashes, the way of life in the boarding school?

11. Summer holiday, the style, the girls, the group and their wanting to humiliate the girls, all arriving, saying the same thing? The girl who upset the boys and knew what they were up to?

12. The new term, the new boy, John and his attitudes? His success in sport, and better relationship with Tough, the matches, against the rival college, holding the opposition and equalising the game? The Latin classes, the test, the plan, the window and the noises? his decision not to cheat, the talk with The Roman, the teacher and telling John that he had a sense of humour on the initial ride?

13. The effect, not so self-centred, meetings with the boys, collaboration, coming back? Sense of responsibility?

14. Coming home again, the elaborate clothes, his sense of maturity – with the pratfalls and the young girl there to welcome him home?