No Greater Glory

I am 53 years old. When I was 12 my father told me to stay home from school to see this movie on television. The movie was a tearjerker classic that every boy, girl and adult should see. Unfortunately this was the last time I ever saw it. It is listed with 5 out of 5 stars in the blockbuster movie guide and I concur. There was reportedly a remake of this film, I believe in color, but not the same title. I would love to hear of anyone who knows if either film still exists and especially if it will be shown anywhere. I'm hoping that Ted Turner has it intact in his collection for TCM. If I never see it again I at least hope all of you see it at least once. Thank you

No Greater Glory (1934)

*** (out of 4)

A rather strange anti-war film that tells the story of two rival kid gangs who are planning to go to war in order to fight over a vacant playground that both sides want. Jimmy Butler plays Boka, a small child who is the only Private in his gang, because he's so small, yet he's the only one will to risk his neck for the greater good of the gang. I've heard people call this a Our Gang Goes to War film and perhaps that isn't too far off base but in the end this is a film I respected a lot more than enjoyed. I'm sure many, many people are going to watch this film and love it but I wouldn't go that far. I think the message is loud and clear but to me it's way too loud and clear. This is the second film I've seen from Borzage's career during this period, the other being Young America, and there's no doubt he wants to get his views across but I think in both films he goes a little overboard. The most impressive thing about this film are the child performances, which range from very good to downright excellent. I was very impressed with the young Butler not only because of his acting but because of his small structure and his ability to rise up and battle. It was a little sad and ironic when I read that he would die in WW2 fighting for his country. George P. Breakston, Jackie Searl and Frankie Darro also add nice work with future Dick Tracy Ralph Morgan having a small role. Another major plus was the cinematography, which looked extremely well and so focused that you couldn't help but feel as if you were there during all the action. The ending, which goes for emotions, certainly gets them and remains one of the most powerful scenes from this era.

In a busy military hospital, one German soldier bemoans participating in a deadly World War, shouting out, "Patriotism is a loathsome lie!" Then, the story dissolves to a Hungarian schoolteacher telling his young students, "There is nothing finer than Patriotism, nothing nobler than War in defense of the country!" Keeping a few of the boys after school, for passing notes, reveals they are part of a gang. They are "The Paul Street Boys", and they are being threatened by older teenage gang "The Red Shirts" who want to take control of a vacant lot. The lot is the only one left in the neighborhood where the gang can meet and play. "The Paul Street Boys" like to play war games.

Most of the two dozen members of the gang are officers. Only small but determined George Breakston (as Erno Nemecsek), remains a "Private". Young blonde Breakston is the smallest because he won't wear heels. He's also clumsy and admits to being afraid - but "Nemecsek" possesses an enviable amount of determination. Despite being made a scapegoat in the group, Breakston admires "The Paul Street Boys" courageous leader Jimmy Butler (as Boka), who is reelected over a scheming Jackie Searl (as Gereb). Young Searl gets only two votes, from himself and the confident winner.

The boys are playing marbles when "The Red Shirts" cocky leader Frankie Darro (as Feri Ats) arrives on screen. Mr. Darro is obviously going to be hard to beat. Darro has already made inroads; working for the enemy, Searl lets Darro sneak into the "Paul Street Boys" lot and steal their flag. That evening, Breakston volunteers for a dangerous mission - to accompany leader Butler and banana lover Donald Haines (as Csonakos) to "The Red Shirts" camp, and bring back their flag. You'll have to see for yourself how successful they are, but you can be sure the gangs go to War...

An interesting side effect of Breakston's capture is the respect Darro has for his enemy's heroics. Breakston would find himself a more valued member of Darro's gang, but never wavers in his support for Butler. These relationships are highly intriguing. You can probably read a lot of different things in the allegorical story (my favorite "reading" is of "Nemecsek" as Jewish, but there are other interpretations). This film is clearly from a superior source, even without the introduction, "From Ferenc Molnar's immortal book." As it turns out, this is a classic novel from Hungry. For upshot Columbia Pictures, director Frank Borzage, photographer Joseph August, and editor Viola Lawrence excel.

Each of the performers are outstanding, with an amazing lead by Breakston. He may tend toward the sentimental, but plays it as directed. The producers and/or Mr. Borzage seem to have added an "All Quiet on the Western Front" type opening, which partially works; really, the story was strong enough as is. Also regrettable is the decision to intentionally speed up the film in selected parts. Incredibly, this received an homage in the opening of the excellent 1969 re-make, which was nominated for an "Academy Award" in the foreign language category.

******** No Greater Glory (3/14/34) Frank Borzage ~ George Breakston, Jimmy Butler, Frankie Darro, Jackie Searl

No musical spots, no romantic sub-plots, not even a girl around! Well, there's the great Lois Wilson as the leading kid's mother, and she's always worth watching, but make no mistake - this is about how boys develop their thinking process, their pecking order, and their views of the world. Not a hint of "boys will be boys," but boy, is it ever obvious in this unusually fearless, serious piece of anti-war propaganda. I would love to see this film restored, revived, and road-show-presented to every school in the country. It doesn't matter a dot that there are no girls in the story, either, as the subject is more valid today, perhaps, in light of world terrorism and how boys are being raised in other lands, than it might have been considered in 1934. We've enjoyed Molnar plays and tales - Liliom, The Good Fairy, The Guardsman, et al, but nothing prepared me for this hard-hitting, no holds barred filming of his book, the Paul Street Boys. There are plenty of marvelous character players, including Christian Rub, Samuel S. Hinds, Ralph Morgan, and of course, Miss Wilson, but it is the younger actors who race away with this picture, particularly everyone's favorite brat, Jackie Searle (who will not disappoint you!), and everyone's favorite tough guy, Frankie Darro, here offering a more layered, thoughtful performance than he is usually allowed to give. Though all the boys are terrific, one stands out, young Georgie Breakston (remember that wonderful moment in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT just after everyone sings "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" - the bus hits the mud and everyone goes flying - it was Georgie Breakston who broke the mood with his plaintive "Ma! Ma!" and gets the money from Colbert and Gable!!) effectively carrying the picture on his tiny shoulders. His performance in NO GREATER GLORY makes a lot of more famous child players seem like cardboard cut-outs. Write to your Congressman about this one, but try and find a copy and show it to your children!

Frank Borzage's films puzzle me in many respects. I can't figure out how he manages to move us but he does. I've seen all the often-quoted films - "Three Comrades", "Mortal Storm", "Man's Castle", "Seventh Heaven" - on more than one occasion and yet each time I am truly moved.

I first caught "No Greater Glory" at the Cinematheque in Paris with a friend when we were studying film. The audience was actually moved to tears! We're talking here about a French audience, a foreign language film not particularly well dubbed on film, an era never experienced by the young audience present at the time and performances by child actors unknown for the most part. Yes, the context in the film was European as were the names and places but the situation was Depression-era America, let there be no doubt about that, as were the actors and production staff. I'm still amazed why and how it worked its magic.

The young actors are never "cute", the lines in the film are more adult than child-like, the performances quite adequate but with no pulling-out-all-the-stops Academy Award-winning emoting. In short, it doesn't "feel" like a manipulative movie in any traditional sense of the word, yet we are manipulated by Borzage's hatred of war in general and his remarkable compassion and sincerity in translating his feelings onto the screen. This film is an absolute must!

Curtis Stotlar