Rebelliousness is a basic human trait. It could be described as immature, foolish, or even sinful, but it’s a natural reaction we’ve all experienced at some time or another. Because someone tells us not to do something, we want to do it even more! This has been happening politically in the last few years, and it’s produced some interesting phenomena in the conservative movement. As harmful ideologies continue to threaten the American way of life more each day, many patriots have embraced an extremely cavalier attitude as a defiant protest for freedom. While there’s nothing wrong with being a brave, unapologetically patriotic American, too much defiance isn’t Americanism, either—it’s anarchy.
The Story
Timothy Dennis (Rooney) is a football star at his high school, looking forward to following in his late father’s footsteps by going to Notre Dame. His world comes crashing down when he learns that his mother has remarried to a wealthy Englishman, Roger Carlton (Hunter), so he and his little sister, Jane (Juanita Quigley), are to join her in England at once. Although the siblings make a pact to dislike their new home and their stepfather, Burton quickly wins over Jane with the beautiful horses in his stables and a couple of adorable puppies. Timothy’s mother tells him that he has been enrolled at Eton, but she assures him that he can still go to Notre Dame when he’s ready for college.
The Scene
Timothy is always trying to come up with ways to improve the system, so he works out an arrangement for sharing the workload of errands among the lower boys. He convinces them that it will lessen the time commitment and save money for all of them. Unfortunately, on the day when it is his turn to take all the upperclassmen’s suits to be pressed and hats to be cleaned, he meets a girlfriend of his from the ship, Flossie (Mary Brown). He gets distracted from his work and accompanies her on a walking tour. He carelessly puts all the coats and hats in a dry fountain for safe keeping, but the water gets turned on and soaks them all.Its Significance
Headmaster Justin walks firmly up to Timothy and, shouting to be heard over his yelling and pounding on the door, says, “Dennis, stop that noise, this instant!” Timothy yells, “They can’t do this to me! They can’t do it!” Calmer, Justin replies, “Evidently, they have. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be indulging in these childish yammerings.” Timothy yells in his face, “Well, maybe I’m just going to the wrong school. This is no place for an American!” “Dennis, ever since you arrived here, you have taken singular pride in a rugged form of individualism which you choose to call Americanism. Now, as a student and admirer of your country, I must say I find your attitude less American and more, shall we say, barbarian.”Slightly subdued by the headmaster’s politely phrased accusation, Timothy demands, “What do you mean?” Headmaster Justin explains, “Eton is too big to worry about where a boy comes from. All that matters is what he has brought with him. Now, you have brought nothing. Nothing, that is, except the negative desire not to like us.” Seeing that the young man looks unrepentant, the headmaster gently puts his hand on his shoulder and advises, “When you come back next half, Dennis, try to approach Eton as a friend. You may find it can be a good one.”
Beginning of Reform
This scene helps Timothy change his attitude toward going to Eton. He doesn’t want to listen to the headmaster at the time, but his words sink in and make an impact on the young man later. After Mr. Carlton convinces his stepson not to run away by telling him that he took his deceased son’s place in the Eton registration, Timothy is inspired to be the student, athlete, and team player which the Carlton boy would have been, had he lived past age 5. He dedicates himself to his studies, learns the British sports, and tries to have a good attitude about the foreign customs.After Timothy has become a star student, Headmaster Justin congratulates him on his improvement. The lad admits that he was indeed acting like a barbarian when he first enrolled, although the older man is embarrassed to have his words repeated. The headmaster then quotes an apt writing by Thomas Jefferson: “With Great Britain on our side, we need not fear the whole world. With her, then, we should most sedulously cherish a cordial friendship. And nothing would tend more to knit our affections than to be fighting once more side by side in the same cause.” This message that England and America must be friends to succeed is strong in this film; although the United States had joined World War II when it was released, the war is never mentioned in the film.
This film is a poignant reminder that anarchy is never a synonym for liberty. If we act reckless and lawless, we only prove our enemies’ beliefs that freedom is a dangerous thing. By acting civilized, intelligent, and reasonable, we prove the beauty and strength of the American way.
