|
|
|
|
|
Warner Brothers was never the sort of studio to shy away from
exploring social ills or the harsher aspects of American life and
Wild Boys of the Road (1933) is a perfect example of
their commitment to this sort of picture during the early sound
era. Set during the Depression, the film follows two middle-class
boys who take to the road when economic hardships drastically
alter their situations at home. Riding east on a freight train, they
befriend other homeless youths along the way until railroad
authorities force them off the train in Ohio where they create
their own hobo camp.
Wild Boys of the Road was William Wellman's attempt
to dramatize some disturbing developments in the social fabric
of America while at the same time reflecting some of the
optimism inherent in the New Deal politics of Franklin D.
Roosevelt. Though normally very frugal with film budgets,
Wellman went over his allotted production costs on this film due
to his emotional involvement in the subject matter.
Unfortunately, Wild Boys of the Road didn't do well
commercially when released and some critics felt the happy
ending was unrealistic. While that may be true in part,
everything that comes before the fadeout is tough and
uncompromising, particularly a scene where a boy loses his leg
to an oncoming train. In fact, studio executive Hal Wallis
requested changes to the train amputation sequence in a memo:
"I am just looking at the stuff where the train passes over and
cuts the kid's (Edwin Phillips) leg off. There is no doubt about it,
it is effective but if we ever left this in, there would be more
premature births in the theatre and more people dying than
were killed in the World War. I hope...you will get it over more
by suggestion."
Part of the reason Wellman succeeded in capturing such a
naturalistic, documentary-like flavor is because of the real
locations used and a cast of mostly unknown actors, Frankie
Darro and Rochelle Hudson being the two exceptions. Dorothy
Coonan, who plays Dottie, a tough, young girl who rides the
rails, is a particular standout and had previously worked as a
dancer in Busby Berkeley musicals such as Gold Diggers of
1933. Wellman became infatuated with Dorothy while she was making Wild Boys of the Road and soon after they married, making
her Wellman's fourth and final wife.
Director: William A. Wellman
Producer: Robert Presnell Sr. (uncredited)
Screenplay: Daniel Ahern (story), Earl Baldwin
Cinematography: Arthur L. Todd
Editor: Thomas Pratt
Art Direction: Esdras Hartley
Music: Bernhard Kaun (uncredited)
Cast: Frankie Darro (Edward "Eddie" Smith), Edwin Phillips
(Tommy Gordon), Rochelle Hudson (Grace), Dorothy Coonan
(Sally), Sterling Holloway (Ollie), Arthur howl (Dr. Henry A.
Heckel).
BW-69m.
by Jeff Stafford
 
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
31 Days of Oscar Highlights for Feb. 25
John Wayne stars in the John Ford western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), co-starring Lee Marvin, who is in the follow-up film The Dirty Dozen (1962). Other Academy Award® honorees include Step Lively (1944) & The Killers (1946).
MORE >
|
|
TCM UK
| 
TCM Spain
| 
TCM France
| TCM Latin America
| TCM Asia
| TCM Germany
TCM.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.
