A beautifully well-made film displaying the musical and acting talents of a group of 1950s youngsters fitted round the age-old story of the conflict between John Mills' charismatic music teacher and Cecil Parker's authoritarian new Headteacher who comes to understand there is more to inspiring young people than he had hitherto believed. The set pieces of orchestral playing and the open-air song and dance busking sequence are done with great unixism and ability and a certain naivety that is so special to British films of that era. The storyline is predictable but extremely well acted by the experienced stars and the youngsters, several of whom went on to make their careers in acting. Well worth viewing more than once and enjoying the unpretentious and energetic performance of the youngsters in particular.
Review of It's Great to Be Young!
It's Great to Be Young!
(1956)
A great feel-good fable of school days as we would all like to remember them!
14 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers