What a wonderful thing for this movie finally to be released on DVD! I haven't seen it in over 30 years, but I treasured my memories of it. It was a real treat to see it again. I got to relive adventures with Tough McCarty, Tennessee Shad, Hungry Smead and the White Mountain Canary.
This is an excellent family movie, and a great view of Americana at the turn of the century. The cast was very good, and while this will never be a mega-classic like Gone with the Wind, it's worth watching and re-watching.
As others have said, the linchpin of the movie is Dink's final conversation with the Old Roman, and it's a great scene.
Leo G. Carroll as the crusty Old Roman (aka Latin teacher, also football coach) and a young Dean Stockwell deliver solid performances that make this as lovable classic.
***** a funny minor spoiler ****** When I was watching this with my wife, she couldn't figure out why Dink and Tough were going over game plays on the football field at night with nobody else around. I told her, male bonding, it's a guy thing. True in 1896, and true today. ***** end of spoiler *****
This is an excellent family movie, and a great view of Americana at the turn of the century. The cast was very good, and while this will never be a mega-classic like Gone with the Wind, it's worth watching and re-watching.
As others have said, the linchpin of the movie is Dink's final conversation with the Old Roman, and it's a great scene.
Leo G. Carroll as the crusty Old Roman (aka Latin teacher, also football coach) and a young Dean Stockwell deliver solid performances that make this as lovable classic.
***** a funny minor spoiler ****** When I was watching this with my wife, she couldn't figure out why Dink and Tough were going over game plays on the football field at night with nobody else around. I told her, male bonding, it's a guy thing. True in 1896, and true today. ***** end of spoiler *****