This was one of the last films starring the fabulous actor Bobby Driscoll, no longer as a child but as a teenager and already with a changed voice, exactly the same voice as in 'Peter Pan'. Despite being clearly more grown up here, he is still instantly recognizable. His face and features didn't change. Plus, come to think of it, he does look like Peter Pan. Of course that in 'Peter Pan' they exaggerated some of his traces.
Even as a teen, Driscoll was a good-looking guy. He was an actor that really loved what he did. Acting was his passion. And his dedication to it matched his extraordinary talent. Here he was still happy and healthy, certainly still far from imagining what his life was about to become. There aren't actors like him today.
I read many good things about this film. Because of that and because Bobby Driscoll is in it, I decided to watch it. It's not that I was vastly disappointed, but I found this movie somewhat trivial, although with its points of interest.
Bobby Driscoll plays a coming of age role, feeling the urge and curiosity to try and experience new things without really knowing why and without understanding what's going on with him. It happens to all teenagers. The character he portrays is Robert Bonnard (also known by the ridiculous nickname "Bibi"), member of a french-Canadian family. An interesting and different role for this fine actor who sadly is long gone.
Some things I disliked about this movie were, for example, the selfish behavior of the character Peggy, who causes even more trouble for "Bibi" by falsely claiming she saw him drawing a "dirty picture". Of course, the poor guy tries to defend himself, but the school's principal does not believe him, gives him corporal punishment and threats to repeat it every day, unless he confesses. How "Bibi" still forgives Peggy is beyond me. I wouldn't.
On the other hand, one of the best bits was when "Bibi" feels the urge of kissing a woman he is attracted to and he really does it while she's sleeping (and runs away and she doesn't know it was him). That was cute.
I rate this as a 7. I think it's a fair enough rating.
Even as a teen, Driscoll was a good-looking guy. He was an actor that really loved what he did. Acting was his passion. And his dedication to it matched his extraordinary talent. Here he was still happy and healthy, certainly still far from imagining what his life was about to become. There aren't actors like him today.
I read many good things about this film. Because of that and because Bobby Driscoll is in it, I decided to watch it. It's not that I was vastly disappointed, but I found this movie somewhat trivial, although with its points of interest.
Bobby Driscoll plays a coming of age role, feeling the urge and curiosity to try and experience new things without really knowing why and without understanding what's going on with him. It happens to all teenagers. The character he portrays is Robert Bonnard (also known by the ridiculous nickname "Bibi"), member of a french-Canadian family. An interesting and different role for this fine actor who sadly is long gone.
Some things I disliked about this movie were, for example, the selfish behavior of the character Peggy, who causes even more trouble for "Bibi" by falsely claiming she saw him drawing a "dirty picture". Of course, the poor guy tries to defend himself, but the school's principal does not believe him, gives him corporal punishment and threats to repeat it every day, unless he confesses. How "Bibi" still forgives Peggy is beyond me. I wouldn't.
On the other hand, one of the best bits was when "Bibi" feels the urge of kissing a woman he is attracted to and he really does it while she's sleeping (and runs away and she doesn't know it was him). That was cute.
I rate this as a 7. I think it's a fair enough rating.