Follow Me, Boys! facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Follow Me, Boys!
Directed by	Norman Tokar
Produced by	Walt Disney Winston Hibler
Screenplay by	Louis Pelletier
Starring	Fred MacMurray Vera Miles Lillian Gish Charles Ruggles Elliott Reid Kurt Russell Luana Patten Ken Murray
Music by	George Bruns Richard M. Sherman Robert B. Sherman
Cinematography	Clifford Stine
Editing by	Robert Stafford
Studio	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date(s)	December 1, 1966 (1966-12-01)
Running time	131 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Money made	$16,207,116

Follow Me, Boys! is a family film made by Walt Disney Productions in 1966. It tells the story of a man who helps start a Boy Scout troop in a small town. The movie is based on the 1954 book God and My Country by MacKinlay Kantor.

This film was the last live-action movie produced by Walt Disney himself. He passed away just two weeks after it was released. The movie stars Fred MacMurray, Vera Miles, Lillian Gish, Charles Ruggles, and Kurt Russell.

Follow Me, Boys! is one of the few movies that focuses on the Boy Scouts of America. It's like a tribute from Disney to the Boy Scouts. The main song, "Follow Me, Boys!", was written by the famous Robert and Richard Sherman.

This movie was the first of ten Disney films that Kurt Russell would appear in over the next ten years. You can find the film on DVD, which was released in 2004.

The Story of Lem Siddons and Troop 1

The movie begins in 1930. Lemuel "Lem" Siddons (played by Fred MacMurray) is a saxophonist in a traveling band. He dreams of becoming a lawyer someday. When his band's bus stops in the small town of Hickory, Lem makes a big decision. He decides to leave the band and settle down in Hickory.

He quickly finds a job as a clerk in the general store. This store is owned by John Everett Hughes (played by Charlie Ruggles). Lem also notices Vida Downey (played by Vera Miles), a bank teller he saw earlier. He tries to win her over from her boyfriend, Ralph Hastings.

Starting the Boy Scout Troop

Lem sees Vida making a list of ways to help the town's boys. She crosses off some ideas, leaving only the Boy Scouts. Lem then suggests and volunteers to become the Scoutmaster for the new Troop 1. This is how his journey with the Boy Scouts begins.

Lem quickly becomes a natural leader for the Scout troop. He's very good at it. He even puts his dream of becoming a lawyer on hold. Instead, he focuses on helping the town's boys grow into young men.

Whitey Joins the Scouts

There's a boy in town named Edward "Whitey" White, Jr. (played by Kurt Russell). He's known as a troublemaker and doesn't want to join the troop. One night, Lem and Vida are on a date. They catch Whitey trying to take things from Hughes' store.

Whitey gets startled and falls, spraining his ankle. Lem uses skills from the Boy Scout Handbook to bandage Whitey's ankle. Whitey is impressed by Lem's help. Later, Whitey secretly takes the handbook. Lem knows about it and lets him keep it, seeing a bit of himself in Whitey.

One evening, Lem invites Whitey's father, Edward Sr., to a parents' night. The Boy Scouts meet on a property by the lake, owned by Hetty Seibert (played by Lillian Gish). Edward Sr.'s behavior embarrasses Whitey, and Whitey decides to quit the troop. Sadly, Edward Sr. passes away that same night. Lem and Vida decide to adopt Whitey and care for him.

A "War Game" Adventure

Years later, in 1944, Lem has an unexpected adventure. He is accidentally captured by the United States Army. The Army is playing a war game near the lake. Lem is mistaken for a spy because of his Scouting gear. He can't prove he's a Scoutmaster when the captain asks him to tie a sheepshank knot. This is the only knot Lem never learned!

Across the lake, Troop 1 fires their morning cannon. This accidentally signals the military to "attack" the boys as part of the game. The Scouts take shelter in a pretend base. They successfully "capture" a tank using special squibs that look like land mines. This fun event helps free Lem from the embarrassed military.

The Lake Property Case

Back at the lake, Lem and the troop find out that Ralph Hastings is taking Hetty Seibert to court. Ralph believes the lake property belongs to him. Lem agrees to be Hetty's lawyer. During the trial, Lem asks Hetty questions. She explains that the property was once where her family cottage stood.

The cottage burned down in September 1918. This happened two days after she learned her sons were killed in France during a battle. Hetty explains that she let the troop meet there because the boys reminded her of her own sons playing. In the end, Hetty wins the case, and Lem is allowed to keep the property for the Scouts.

A Special Celebration

On September 1, 1945, Lem and Vida celebrate Hughes' birthday. They listen to Harry S. Truman announce the end of the war over the radio. Whitey, who became a captain in the army, returns to Hickory. He introduces Lem and Vida to his wife, Nora, who is an army nurse.

In 1950, John Everett Hughes passes away. He leaves his store to both Lem and Vida. Around the same time, because of Lem's health, the Scout committee asks him to retire as Scoutmaster.

To thank him for his twenty years of service, the entire town gives Lem a surprise celebration on October 2, 1950. Both current and former members of Troop 1 are there. They dedicate Hetty's property as Camp Siddons, honoring Lem for all he has done.

Meet the Cast

Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played in Follow Me, Boys!:

Film Versions

When Follow Me, Boys! first came out, it was 131 minutes long. In 1976, a shorter version was shown in theaters, which was 107 minutes. The first video release in the United States in 1984 was 120 minutes long. The DVD released in 2004 has the complete original movie, which is 131 minutes.