Follow Me, Boys!

Almost great. The first 70-90 minutes of 'Follow Me, Boys!' is excellent, it's serious yet amusing. I felt connected to the characters and their storyline. Unfortunately, the film then adds on a pointless if solid extra 40-60 minutes. It kinda feels like one of those TV episodes into one film things, which is annoying as it doesn't need to do it. Fred MacMurray is terrific as Lem, especially across that opening period. It's heartwarming seeing his character help out a community of kids, particularly one - Whitey, who is played impressively by Kurt Russell. All of the other child actors, while not massively memorable, are fine and you really feel for their overall story. The final portion of this film really hampers it though. It isn't actually anything bad and if it had been a sequel I reckon I would've liked it, but as a continuation/add-on to the earlier premise it doesn't hit the same heartfelt notes at all. So that's disappointing, but it's still just about a good film.

Solid, Heartwarming, and an absolute delight, with the main character a gentleman, not an indecent scumbag.

Exclent all around family movie. Lots of great acting by the whole cast. Lillian Gish plays the seeming eccentric rich old lady does a fantastic role, drops the small towns folks jaws when she testifies in her defence in court.

★★★ (out of four)

For it's day and age (and our age as well) this is a truly fine film.It's full of the good things many of us remember with an interesting story line and well done acting. This is a movie that I can watch every few months when I want to see a movie about a simpler time and feel great by the end.

A classic American wholesome story about the scouts in America at the time. Filled with many cliches this film is likeable & charming especially the supporting performance from Lillian Gish as the towns nosey & busy body. I believe it's Kurt Russell's first film & he is utterly fantastic as the young troubled kid. It's very predictable & a little corny but I found it well made & thoroughly interesting film.

A great childhood film I will never forget. It also inspires one to more civic duty.

I strongly disagree with the posted review concerning this movie. It is a good wholesome, family oriented, moral, worthwhile movie for parents interested in exposing their children to something other than sci-fi or action heroes (who usually aren't very heroic). It has a theme and a plot and good/bad characters, and yes, the good wins out over the bad, but isn't that what we want our children to learn! I grew up watching these movies; my children grew up watching these movies; my grandchild will grow up watching these movies. Only a cynic or a sociopath could seriously find fault with them. They are children's movies. If he missed his chance when he was a kid I'm sorry, but he has no business reviewing he didn't learn to appreciate at the right time of his life.

"Follow Me, Boys!" is a Disney film which managed to evade me. I have just watched it for the first time and it's movies like this that are the very reason why I love cinema so much. This is an absolutely fantastic flick. I have always loved Frederick MacMurray and his films such as The Egg & I, Double Indemnity and Dive Bomber have been staple favourites for a long time. Having now seen Follow Me Boys it's clear that we have a new contender. He is just so good. He plays a travelling jazz musician on tour who decides to pack it all in for the quiet life. Arriving in a small town he soon finds himself volunteering to be a scout leader to help keep the rowdy kids off the street. His commitment soon becomes a lifestyle and before he knows it the whole town respects and idolises him. His wife... is played by Vera Miles who is not only dead-set gorgeous in the film but she is also amazing. It's probably one of her most understated performances. If you catch this some time, pay attention to her subtle expressions. This was also Kurt Russell's first Disney contract film at the age of 13 and he is also solid and affective. Watching this also struck me with it's similarities to Mr Holland's Opus (or rather the other way around). A VERY similar formula with almost all the same hallmarks. "Follow Me, Boys!" is a loving salute to the Boy Scouts of America that's impossible to resist. It certainly kept me smiling for it's entire 130 minute length. Well worth the purchase!

Sentimental Disney film is cute but overlong. (P.S. The Rotten Tomatoes synopsis is for the 1944 musical, which had absolutely nothing to do with this film.)