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