Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Andy Howlett OK, this is sentimental corn - but it's by Disney (who were masters of the art at this time) and it gives us a warm, affectionate look at small-town America during the 'Golden Age'. Even better, it stars Fred McMurray, who gives a skillful performance as Lem Siddons, the trainee Lawyer who gives it all up to get married, settle down and head up the local Scout Troop. He seems to hit just the right note throughout. It's all light-hearted stuff, but it does touch upon adult themes, quite darkly at times. One such scene is when Whitey's alchoholic father turns up at the meeting to serve up some melting ice-cream. Whitey's horror and embarrassment is most touching. I'm not afraid to say there were a few occasions where I almost had to reach for my hankie, and the ending is just so nice. A perfect Sunday Afternoon film. Just one complaint - why was it hacked down from 1.66:1 to 1.33:1 for this release?

Andrew Towne Just as he did with his "Spin and Marty" and "Hardy Boys" series, Walt Disney gives us a wholesome but not overly sentimental portrait of small town (or rural, in the case of "Spin and Marty") America in this movie.Lem is an itinerant jazz musician traveling from show to show with other musicians during the Depression. He hasn't been paid by his producer, and decides to abandon the tour and take a job as a clerk in a small town general store.He meets a girl who works at a nearby bank. After some initial mishaps and misunderstandings, the two of them show up at a civic function where the mayor declares that the town's boys need something to keep them out of trouble.Lem volunteers to start a boy scout troop. The town's kids are enthusiastic, with one exception -- a boy who stays away from the other kids because his father is a drunk and he feels he must take care of him rather than play "silly games." There is a confrontation between this boy and the other kids, and Lem tries to persuade the boy to join the scouts.I won't tell any more about the plot, because that would spoil the experience of seeing this movie. I will just say that almost everything in this movie is perfect -- the writing, music, cinematography, acting and sets.Lem is a wonderful role model and teacher for the kids, and the charm of small-town America shines through. There are moments that will bring a tear to your eye, but the overall tone of this movie is one of exuberance and joy.It is a delight to see a movie that celebrates good character development in this day and age of cynicism, sensationalism and a general lack of moral standards. This is especially true for movies involving children, because a society that does not raise its children well does not deserve to survive -- and probably won't.Please keep in mind that I am no prude or religious right-winger, or anything of that sort. But I do believe in decency, good taste, good character and good manners. And this movie confirms the importance of those values.

edwagreen Wonderful Fred MacMurray fanfare dealing with a man who settles in a small rural town in 1930 and in order to impress Vi, (Vera Miles)he embarks on a career as the scoutmaster of the town. Little does he know that this will become a lifetime position for him as he guides countless numbers of boys to maturity through 20 years of scouting.The film is an excellent tribute to the Boy Scouts of America. Vera Miles plays the girl he eventually marries.The film deals with the trials and tribulations that he has deal with during his 20 years of work. Lillian Gish is in fine form as Aunt Hetty, who seems to be senile but is anything but. Elliott Reid, her nephew, comes off as the villain here, partly because he had lost Miles to Lem (MacMurray) years before. Kurt Russell is absolutely terrific as a difficult youngster who loves his alcoholic father but is embarrassed by him. Russell goes to live with Lem and Vi when the father dies. Heartwarming and poignant, this is really Americana at its best.

scgkj Just thought I would share what little I know about this movie.Mackinlay Kantor was born in my hometown of Webster City, Iowa. He belonged to Boy Scout troop #17. He would have been 16 years old in 1920 so that gives you an idea when he was in scouts. My understanding is that he wrote the book to honor the Boy scouts and their leaders and he wanted to do so because of the great experiences he had a scout. I don't know how much of the movie is true but I do know there is at least one thing in the movie which reflects Webster City. It's nothing more than the name of a street but it's something anyway.When I was a scout in the mid 70's we met in the upstairs of an old school building. All over the walls were posters which listed the winners of some of the annual contests that the troop held each year. Mackinlay Kantor's name was up there several times for having won several contests.The name of my Scout leader in the 70's was a man named John McMurray. The man who founded Troop 17 in Webster City was a man named Murray McMurray. Their family has run a chick hatchery of all things in Webster City for years and it is still a thriving business today. Murray would have been Mackinlay Kantors Scout leader and I'm sure a big reason why he wrote the book. Murry, by the way, was a local banker who started the hatchery on the side. So he wasn't a musician like Lem was per say but his commitment to the town and to scouts is obviously reflected in the book and movie.At this writing it is Memorial Day weekend 2006. There is a reunion being held this weekend in Webster City for all scouts who ever were in Troop 17. Among other things John McMurray will be speaking and concerning the movie Follow Me Boys? They will be be playing it twice for everybody there to go and see.If you grew up in Webster City and were a scout this movie holds a little bit more than the usual emotions.