THE GREEN YEARS

US, 1946, 127 minutes, Black and white.
Charles Coburn, Tom Drake, Beverly Tyler, Hume Cronyn, Gladys Cooper, Dean Stockwell, Jessica Tandy, Richard Haydn.
Directed by Victor Saville.

The Green Years is one of many popular novels by A.J.Cronin to be filmed. The Citadel, Beyond This Place, The Stars Look Down, Hatter's Castle, The Keys of the Kingdom, The Spanish Gardener. Cronin was also the author of the popular television series Dr. Finlay's Casebook. The films reflect generally his background as a doctor, a Scotsman. He captures the atmosphere of the history of Scotland in the early 20th. century - the city, poverty, ambition, service especially in medicine. This film is about the green years, the early formative years of a young man who had the potential for a successful career in medicine.

The film receives the glossy M.G.M. production values of the '40s. It has some excellent strong performances and gives Charles Coburn an excellent opportunity as Grandpa. Dean Stockwell shows how effective he was a child star as the young Robert. Tom Drake acts well in the adult role of Robert. The excellent supporting cast is made up of M.G.M. regulars - with such people as Gladys Cooper, Hume Cronin and his wife Jessica Tandy. The discreet direction is by Victor Saville. Somewhat dated, a little slow moving, yet nevertheless engrossing and a fine example of what Hollywood could do with the more substantial best-sellers of those days.

1. The popularity of the work of A.J.Cronin? Humanity, sentiment, Scottish background, interest in medicine and service? Its impact in its time? Impact now - dated or not?

2. M.G.M. production values - Hollywood's Scotland? Black and white photography, score? Strength of the cast?

3. Nostalgia, memory? The influence of the past? Delight in the past, learning by the past? The significance of the title, the formative years, green hope?

4. The span of the film - Robert's growing up: early 1900s. Scotland, poverty, family life, school. customs, hard work, careers and ambitions, the future?

5. Robert Shannon - his coming from Ireland, an orphan, the drama of his arrival, the Catholic in the Presbyterian atmosphere, the sternness of the household especially by the father? Grandpa and his looking after the boy and affection for him, the rivalry from Grandma and her strictness? His crying and being urged not to? Not eating the fish on Friday? His going to school, the suit made by Grandma and the ridicule? The interest of the teacher? The collage of persecution by the boys? Grandpa and training him to fight, urging him to fight? The fight sequence and his making friends with his opponent? His interest in science and details of his class work, experiments, collection? His relating to the members of the household - the father with his strictness, Kate and her compassion, his adopted mother and her care for him? Grandpa and the outings, the stories? Grandma and her opposition to Grandpa? The build up to the first communion - and his suit at Father's expense? The formative years, his age, achievement? His growing up and success at school? His friendship with Alison and Gavin? Poverty and inability to go to the university? The teacher and the opportunity for the scholarship - Grandpa's machinations. his father's decision not to sign the document? The cramming, illness, the exam, the failure? The love for Alison - her singing and going to study? Gavin and his return home and his death with the train? The testing of Robert's faith and his visit to the church? The rejection of God? Looking after Grandpa in his old age - the carnival sequence? Grandpa's death? His alienation from the rest of the family? The presence at the will-reading and the irony of Grandpa's leaving him the money? Kate and her support? How well the development of his character? As hero of the film? A good boy and a good man? An honourable type?

6. The portrait of Grandpa - his age, place in the family, stories and the heightened drama of his tales, his drinking and his friends, the importance of Robert's First Communion and his selling back his son-in-law's book, helping Robert to study, his final illness, pride, his will? A rounded portrait of an old Scotsman?

7. The mother and father - and their attitude towards Robert's mother, his Irish father, the father's stinginess, the emphasis on his supporting the family, his inflated view of himself and his sewerage work? His deals with Adam and their failure? His machinations to get Grandpa's money? His being beaten by Grandpa in his will? The kindness of the mother and her standing up to her husband for Robert's sake?

8. Kate and her welcome, her help, her resistance to men - but her love for her suitor, the happy marriage, her love for Robert? Murdoch and his plants? Adam and his life in London, money deals, the insurance, his father wanting his money back? Grandpa outwitting Adam?

9. Grandma and her place in the family, her jealousy of Grandpa, her strictness, her disapproval of things Catholic, the suit?

10. Alison as an attractive little girl, friendship with Gavin and Robert, the shared experiences as children, her growing up, singing, study, love for Robert?

11. The teacher and his acidic tones, his concern for the children, his wisdom in helping Robert to grow, to learn? His acclamation of his achievement in study? The preparation for the scholarship exam? His faith in Robert?

12. The film's attention to detail in the Scottish way of life at the turn of the century?

13. The theme of growing up, the getting of wisdom, the solid basis for a worthwhile life?