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Follow me Boys


Staring: Fred MacMurray, Vera Miles Lillian Gish, Charles Ruggles, Elliott Reid, Kurt Russell, Luana Patten
Production company: Walt Disney Productions
Music by: George Bruns, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Release: December 1, 1966

Plot: In 1930, Lemuel "Lem" Siddons, a saxophonist in a traveling band, dreams of becoming a lawyer. When the band's bus reaches the small town of Hickory, Lem suddenly decides to leave the band and settle down, finding a job as a clerk in the general store owned by John Everett Hughes. At the town civic meeting, Lem again notices Vida Downey, a bank teller whom Lem had seen on his first day in town, and eventually attempts to woo away from her boyfriend Ralph Hastings. Lem notices Vida crosses off the YMCA and the 4-H from her list of three possible organizations to keep the town's boys off the streets, leaving only the Boy Scouts, and he decides to suggest and volunteer to become Scoutmaster of the newly formed Troop 1.

Some time later, Lem becomes an all-around natural leader with the Scout troop, even putting a plan to become a lawyer aside as he helps the town's boys mature into men. Meanwhile, the town's troublemaker boy, Edward "Whitey" White, Jr., refuses to join the troop. One night, while Lem and Vida are on a date, they catch Whitey shoplifting from Hughes' store. Startled, Whitey falls and sprains his ankle, which Lem bandages using the techniques provided in the Boy Scout Handbook. Impressed by Lem's work, Whitey secretly steals the book, which Lem allows, because he sees his past self reflected in Whitey. One night, Lem invites Whitey's father, Edward, Sr., to attend parents' night at the Boy Scouts' meeting place located on the lake property of Hetty Seibert. Edward arrives drunk and embarrasses Whitey, causing him to quit the troop. However, Edward dies later that very night of alcohol poisoning, leaving Lem and Vida to adopt Whitey.

Review: There was a time when the Disney Company crafted wonderful feel good movies. Void of the trendy gimmicks and post modern messages that have become a hallmark of many recent productions. Follow me Boys is a heart felt story of Lemuel "Lem" Siddons (played perfectly by Fred MacMurray). Who is a saxophonist traveling with a band in a very cramped bus. As he surveys one of the many seemingly nameless towns the bus has stopped in he decides it's time to try something new.

Not wanting to give away too much of the story, it would be safe that Lem proves to be a natural leader of the local Scouts, works hard and proves himself in a local shop all the while pursuing his real interest in legal studies. Throw in a tank and a bunch of hopeless troops on maneuvers and you have the formula for fun and mayhem.

If you can get hold of this classic gem it will be well worth watching it with the whole family. Even if just to see a very young and talented Kurt Russell. Who grows and shines along with the script that flows with magic.

M J Flack