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The Tender Years

  • 1948
  • Approved
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
44
YOUR RATING
Joe E. Brown, Charles Drake, Richard Lyon, and Noreen Nash in The Tender Years (1948)
Drama

The first of the Edward L. Alperson "Alson Productions" for 20th Century-Fox distribution, featuring the return to the screen, after nearly a four-year absence, of comedian Joe E. Brown, in ... Read allThe first of the Edward L. Alperson "Alson Productions" for 20th Century-Fox distribution, featuring the return to the screen, after nearly a four-year absence, of comedian Joe E. Brown, in a non-comedic role. The story is set in a small mid-western town in the 1880's, where mini... Read allThe first of the Edward L. Alperson "Alson Productions" for 20th Century-Fox distribution, featuring the return to the screen, after nearly a four-year absence, of comedian Joe E. Brown, in a non-comedic role. The story is set in a small mid-western town in the 1880's, where minister William "Will" Norris becomes involved in the vicious fights held in the local dog-pi... Read all

  • Director
    • Harold D. Schuster
  • Writers
    • Arnold Belgard
    • Abem Finkel
    • Jack Jungmeyer
  • Stars
    • Joe E. Brown
    • Richard Lyon
    • Noreen Nash
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    44
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Harold D. Schuster
    • Writers
      • Arnold Belgard
      • Abem Finkel
      • Jack Jungmeyer
    • Stars
      • Joe E. Brown
      • Richard Lyon
      • Noreen Nash
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast26

    Edit
    Joe E. Brown
    Joe E. Brown
    • Rev. Will Norris
    Richard Lyon
    Richard Lyon
    • Ted Norris
    Noreen Nash
    Noreen Nash
    • Linda
    Charles Drake
    Charles Drake
    • Bob Wilson
    Josephine Hutchinson
    Josephine Hutchinson
    • Emily Norris
    James Millican
    James Millican
    • Kit Barton
    Griff Barnett
    Griff Barnett
    • Sen. Cooper
    Jeanne Gail
    • Jeanie
    Harry Cheshire
    Harry Cheshire
    • Sheriff Fred Ackley
    • (as Harry V. Cheshire)
    Blayney Lewis
    • Frank Barton
    Jimmie Dodd
    Jimmie Dodd
    • Spike
    Joyce Arling
    Joyce Arling
    • Mrs. Reed
    • (uncredited)
    Martha Bamattre
    • Cook
    • (uncredited)
    Stanley Blystone
    Stanley Blystone
    • Farmer
    • (uncredited)
    Lane Chandler
    Lane Chandler
    • Dog Handler
    • (uncredited)
    Edmund Cobb
    Edmund Cobb
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Gene Collins
    • Messenger
    • (uncredited)
    Marjorie Eaton
    Marjorie Eaton
    • Mrs. Richards
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Harold D. Schuster
    • Writers
      • Arnold Belgard
      • Abem Finkel
      • Jack Jungmeyer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    6.744
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    Featured reviews

    7sol-kay

    I feel so good that it's down right sinful

    **SPOILERS** One of the first movies to confront the brutal game of pit or dog fighting and does it in an honest and effective way by bringing the best out of even those who are involved in it by them finally seeing the light due to the efforts of Reverand Will Norris and his young son Ted, Joe E. Brown & Richard Lyon.

    The Slasher a champion fighting dog for the Barton kennel is so brutalized by his owner Barton, James Milligan, that the first chance he has takes off into the woods. Found hiding in the Norris home by young Ted he's slowly brought back to health by the loving and kindness of both Ted and his dad Reverand Will Norris. It's later when a reward is offered for The Slasher, who was renamed Dusty by Ted, and the description of the dog fit Dusty's that Rev. Norris tells a hurt and distraught Ted that he has to bring back his dog to it's rightful owner Barton.

    It's when Ted and his little friend Genie, Jeanne Gail, are about to return Dusty to the Barton farm that they see just whats in store for the sweet and, at the hands of Barton, helpless dog and change their mind. This later leads Rev. Norris after finding out about what Barton is doing with Dusty, and some dozen other dogs that he has in his kennel, to not only refuse to return the dog to it's rightful owner but to face trial and even a stretch behind bars for not doing it.

    Even though the law was clearly against his actions Rev. Norris believed that there are times when even the law should be challenged and in the case of his and Ted's dog Dusty this was just time to do it. Keeping Dusty hidden on an island off the river Ted is later followed by Barton's son Frank, Balyney Lewis, who spotted Ted rowing there. Laer in his attempt to get to the island on a makeshift wooden raft Frank lost his footing and fell into the river. Ted and Dusty swim out to save Frank's life with Dusty doing most of the work dog-paddling both boys back to safety and then risking his freedom, or even his life. Dusty rushing back to the Barton farm gets a surprised Barton, who chases Dusty wanting to get him back to his kennel, to rush over to the river and help together resuscitate his son Frank who had, after Dusty saved his life, stopped breathing.

    Back in town Rev. Norris is about to go on trial for stealing Dusty from the Bartons but the trial is suddenly canceled with Barton showing up with Dusty and dropping all charges against Rev. Norris. His dad is now very upset at Ted from returning Dusty to Barton, it seemed that Rev. Norris didn't know the circumstances of how Dusty ended up back with Barton. The movie is just about to end when we see a truck loaded with a number of dog cages and a grateful Frank letting Dusty out to run back to Teddy and Rev. Norris and a life of freedom from fighting and dying in the "Pit" fighting other sad and unfortunate dogs like himself. Farnk from what we can see of his actions was to do the same to all he other dog that he had with him on the truck.

    "The Tender Years" is a movie with a heart and soul to it not trying at all to demonize even the worst persons in it, the Bartons. The movie goes out of it's way to show that even those living creatures among us who we take for granted to not have any human feelings, like Dogs like Dusty, and thus are not to be looked upon with any humane kindness and understanding are in fact as deserving of the same feelings by us and protection by the law that every one of us are.
    6boblipton

    Joe E. Brown Gives A Good Straight Performance

    In 1880s Indiana, Joe E. Brown is the local pastor. His son finds a lost dog and adopts it. However, it turns out to belong to someone else, and Brown returns it, despite the man using it for pit fighting. He and his son steal the dog, and Brown must go on trial rather than return the animal, rather than subject it to cruelty.

    Brown, after a four-year absence from the screen, gives a good, comedy-free performance as the stiff-backed, kindly parson, proving yet again that just about anyone who can give a good comic performance can give a good straight one, although the converse certainly isn't true. Although the sentimental tone of the movie palled on me by the end, a competent cast and good camerawork by Henry Freulich kept me going painlessly through the end. With Josephine Hutchinson, Charles Drake, Griff Barnett, and a very handsome boxer dog.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Soundtracks
      Dreaming
      (uncredited)

      Music by J.S. Zamecnik

      Sam Fox Music Inc

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 3, 1948 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La mejor herencia
    • Filming locations
      • Enterprise Studios - 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Edward L. Alperson Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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