Redundant and unnecessary.

Overrated

Boring

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

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?

It is kind of hard to beat a cast that includes Fred "My Three Sons" MacMurray; Vera "Psycho" Miles; Lillian "Silent Movie Icon" Gish, and of course Kurt "Big Trouble in Little China" – I'll be your huckleberry – "Tombstone" Russell. This is not the kind of movie I usually gravitate towards, but I always liked Fred MacMurray. Even Fred's portrayal of a smarmy character in, "The Caine Mutiny", was spot-on. This is a story of a guy who settles down in a town armed with a dream to finally become a lawyer. This set-in-stone plan is thankfully sidetracked when he volunteers as a scout master. With every passing year new scouts are added as the older kids move on. At times, it is hard to figure out who is learning more, the students or the teacher. For me this is probably one of my favorite 'coming of age' movies.Time passes and he finds he is much more fulfilled than he could have ever been if he had pursued a life as a lawyer. I really like this movie and I would recommend this to all who doubt good people exist. Trust me - they do – they just need a reason to show themselves.

I really appreciate this vintage Norman Tokar movie. There is always a sweetness throughout his movies, no matter what dark issues may occur in the story. I love Fred McMurray and a young Kurt Russell, to those who remember her, Lillian Gish.Now, I am no fan of the boy scouts, I think some of their more modern policies are horrible and they are teaching the wrong things.You may recognize many of the locations in this movies that have also appeared in more recent films such as country bears, Johnson family vacation, and a few others. This was one of Walt Disney's 'ranches', "golden Oak Ranch" to be exact. ""...In addition to Disney movies, including ''The Apple Dumpling Gang," "Treasure of Matecumbe," ''Pete's Dragon," and others, the Ranch has been used for "Roots II", "Bonanza," "Little House on the Prairie," "The Waltons,'' "The Muppet Movie," ''The Electric Horseman," Colonel Sanders chicken commercials, and much more...." (excerpt from http://www.billcotter.com/Disney/golden.htm)

I loved it for the look back at how things worked some 50 years ago. I know it is sugar coated. But the importance that people put in different things back then is good to see.I love the view of how scouting as an organized group can bring the boys and the community together. My kids loved it and watch it again and again. That does not happen much with movies.Well filmed and though it has comedy moments it dives into the seriousness of growing up in a small town. The acting is pretty much the same for all movies at the time - a little melodramatic, but during that time period you can expect that. Movies were for all ages adult to kids. So you see silliness in the middle of serious moments.great film