THE TENDER YEARS
US, 1948, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Joe E. Brown, Richard Lyon, Noreen Nash, Charles Drake, Josephine Hutchinson.
Directed by Harold D. Schuster.
The Tender Years was a comeback film in 1948 for comedian Joe E. Brown who had been very popular in the 20s and 30s. He was later to appear in Show Boat as Captain Andy and had the famous last line in Some Like It Hot. This time he has a serious role, a minister in a small Midwestern town at the end of the 19th century. The film presents family life in the traditional American manner, a rather warm and wholesome presentation with Josephine Hutchinson as the pastor’s wife, Noreen Nash as his daughter Linda and Charles Drake as her fiancé, the town’s lawyer. Richard Lyon is centre as the young son who befriends a runaway dog. (Richard Lyon was British born and adopted by Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon and appeared for many years on television in Life With The Lyons.)
The film opens rather alarmingly with a fairly savage dogfight. This is one of the themes of the film, the movement towards legislation against cruelty to animals and the film was endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. When the dog runs away, it is befriended by the young boy with the support of his father. Principles are very important for the film because when the minister discovers the owner of the dog, he feels that it must be returned – especially as the local senator indicates that he will go to court for stealing. However, the boy is disillusioned with his father.
The minister is willing to go to court to make a point – but there is a humane, sentimental melodramatic ending where the son of the owner is rescued by the dog and he forfeits his case.
This is the kind of film that is very popular with middle America – the kind of story that would be made in more recent times for faith and film stories.
1.The impact of the film in its time? Americana? Impact now? The 19th century? A 1940s perspective?
2.The Midwestern town, the church, homes, the barn for the dogfights, the river and the countryside? The musical score?
3.The religious dimension, the pastor, his congregation, praising his sermons? His moral stance in the community? His stance about the cruelty to animals, integrity with his son, with the law? Prepared to go to court?
4.The impact of the dogfights, their visual presentation? The members of the public at the fights, their enthusiasm, betting? The owner, his savage training of the dogs? Relying on his son? The fights to the death?
5.The escape of the dog, his being found by Ted, Ted and his previous dog, calling him Dusty after the previous pet? The support of his father and mother? His tending the dog, discovering the truth? His not wanting the dog to go back? The law, his father giving the dog bag, his being upset, not wanting to speak to his father, going to his room, to bed? The reaction to his father’s getting the dog, hiding him across the river? Standing by his father in the court case? Principles, conscience?
6.Will Norris as a good man, bringing up his family, his care for Linda, hoping that she would become engaged to Bob Wilson? The discussions with Bob about his future, the law? His love for his wife? The domestic sequences? With Jeanie and her visits? Inviting the senator to meals? His preaching, the praise of the community? His stance about the dog, the discussions of the law? His going to court?
7.The problem with the dog, the senator and Bob, explaining the law? The rehearsal of the court case and Will and his inability to defend himself? The preparations for the hearing, the judge? The women and their support of Will?
8.The women at home, the gossip, watching the re-enactment? Their change of heart?
9.The role of the sheriff, of the senator? Of Bob?
10.The owner, the money that he would make from the fights? His relationship with his son? The son’s devotion to his father, discovering where the dog was, following Ted, in difficulties in the river, Ted and the dog rescuing him? Saving his life? His father’s change of heart?
11.A heartwarming film, an idealistic presentation of middle America? The theme of prevention of cruelty to animals?
