THE DEVIL IS A SISSY

US, 1936, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Ian Hunter, Peggy Conklin, Katherine Alexander, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, Jonathan Hale, Grant Mitchell, Etta Mc Daniel.
Directed by W.S.Van Dyke.

Freddie Bartholomew had been chosen to be the lead in MGM’s David Copperfield. He came from Britain and appeared in a number of MGM films at this time including Anna Karenina and Captains Courageous.

Mickey Rooney had appeared in quite a number of films in small roles as the son but was soon to appear as Andy Hardy, join Judy Garland in musicals and have a career which lasted from the 1930s to the 2010s. Jackie Cooper had appeared with Wallace Beery in The Champ, was to continue as an actor, including Perry Mason in the Superman films, and as a director. Ian Hunter was a stalwart of so many films at this time and is the benign father of Freddie Bartholomew. Peggy Conklin has an Arthur Freed – Nacio Herb Brown song. Jonathan Hale has a strong role as the sympathetic judge and there is a glimpse of Hattie Mc Daniel’s sister, Etta Mc Daniel as Peggy Conklin’s maid. Gene Lockhart appears with his wife as Jackie Cooper’s parents, he bullying veteran of World War I.

There are a number of films about gangs in the 1930s, more especially at Warner Brothers, with the Dead End Kids. This is a benign moralising story about three boys, a sense of belonging, especially for an English boy with the tough Americans in the neighbourhood. It involves stealing, some surly attitudes, an appearance in court, parole officers – and a melodramatic climax when the boys run away only to be given a lift by some criminals, Freddie Bartholomew saving the day by being able to speak French to a French cook in the diner and his calling the police.

One of the many films from W.S. Van Dyke at MGM during the 1930s in the early 1940s.

1. MGM in the 1930s? New York setting, teenagers, delinquency, a cautionary tale?

2. The title, as explained by the judge exhorting the boys to have the courage of their convictions? The devil as an angel tossed out of heaven because he could not cope?

3. The black-and-white photography, New York, the neighbourhood, Park Avenue, the streets, the court, the countryside, the musical score, the song?

4. The Pierce family, the mother and her wealth, separation from her husband, the six months custody of Claude, his age?

5. The six months in the apartment, short of cash, his father as an architect, artist? A good man, relationship with his son?

6. Claude going to school, the teacher, the seat, Gig arriving, pushing him, the treatment from the other boys? Limey?

7. Mickey Rooney as Gig? His father, criminal, to be executed? The mother and her grief? The priest arriving at the house, his consolation, the final words of love, and saying that in a few hours he would know what the others were guessing at? Gig, his friends, at school, wanting the $80 to get a headstone?

8. Buck, Jackie Cooper, the leader, older, the friendship with the group, his leadership, his harsh father and the beatings?

9. Gig, his mother and the new suitor, Gig’s anger? His mother’s sister, looked down on by everyone, the money and the support, shady, Park Avenue apartment? Her encounter with Claude’s father?

10. The car, the group, accepting Claude and not accepting him? His wanting to be part of the group?

11. Claude, Freddie Bartholomew, his life, age? With his father, respectable? Wanting to belong, the gift of the football, the broken window, the headmaster, his confessing? The headmaster knowing what happened and challenging the boys? Strapping Gig, Buck and his carry on?

12. The tombstone, $80 as a deposit, arguing with the owner? The bargain, the stone, the angel? Stealing the tyres, Claude on the lookout, unable to whistle, the policeman whistling, the boys running away? The alternative, stealing the toys, from the apartment of his mother?

13. Their being reported, the court, the parents present, the judge and his fair treatment, sitting Buck’s father down, Claude’s father in the testimony about Gig’s aunt? The judge in chambers, the tough talk, trying to persuade the boys to be better? Parole?

14. The aftermath, in the car, not wanting to report to the parole officer, running away to Africa? Claude hearing this?

15. Claude, the rain, his cold, his father and Gig’s aunt, shopping, Claude going to the cemetery, warning the boys, hitchhiking, the criminals in the car, the diner, the threats, wanting Italian food, the French cook, Claude talking in French – and the police coming and taking the criminals?

16. Claude, sick, in hospital, his mother and her tantrums, taking him away? The father, Gig’s aunt, their care? The boys coming, talking to Claude, his recovery?

17. The theme of teenagers, gangs, thugs in New York City – a moralising story, MGM and benign style compared with the tough Warner Brothers stories?