The Boy with Green Hair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Boy with Green Hair |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Joseph Losey |
| Produced by | Dore Schary |
| Written by | Ben Barzman Alfred Lewis Levitt |
| Starring | Robert Ryan Pat O'Brien Dean Stockwell |
| Music by | Leigh Harline Constantin Bakaleinikoff |
| Cinematography | George Barnes |
| Editing by | Frank Doyle |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 16, 1948 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $900,000 or $800,000 |
The Boy with Green Hair is a 1948 American fantasy-drama film. It was made in Technicolor, which means it has bright, beautiful colors! The movie was directed by Joseph Losey. It stars Dean Stockwell as Peter, a young boy who lost his parents in a war. Peter faces teasing and trouble when his hair mysteriously turns green. Other stars in the movie include Pat O'Brien, Robert Ryan, and Barbara Hale. This film is like a story with a hidden message. It's an allegory that shows how war always hurts children. The movie was later released on DVD in 2010.
Contents
The Story of Peter
The movie begins with a quiet young boy (Dean Stockwell) who has shaved his head. The police in a small town find him. They call a psychologist (Robert Ryan) to help. They soon learn the boy's name is Peter Fry, and he is a war orphan.
Peter moves in with a kind retired actor named Gramps (Pat O'Brien). Peter starts going to school and living a normal life. Then, his class begins a project to help war orphans in Europe and Asia.
Peter's Discovery
Peter soon realizes something important. Like the children on the posters, he is also a war orphan. This discovery about his parents makes Peter very serious. He also hears adults talking about the world getting ready for another war. This worries him a lot.
The next day, after a bath, Peter is drying his hair. To his surprise, he sees that his hair has turned green! People in town and his friends start to tease him. Because of this, Peter runs away.
The Message of the Orphans
Peter finds himself in a lonely part of the woods. Suddenly, the orphaned children from the posters appear before him. They tell him he is a war orphan. They also say that his green hair is special. It means he can make a difference. He must tell everyone that war is dangerous for children.
Peter decides to go back and share his message with everyone. When he returns, the townspeople tell Gramps to convince Peter to shave his head. They hope his hair will grow back normally. Peter goes back to the woods to find the orphan children again. But a group of boys from school chase him. They try to cut his hair.
Peter's Decision
Later, Peter decides to shave his head. The town barber helps him that night. However, Peter leaves home in the middle of the night. He wears a baseball cap and carries a baseball bat. The song "Nature Boy" plays in the background.
Peter is later reunited with Gramps. He learns that some adults do understand his message. They want him to keep sharing it. Peter is sure his hair will grow back green again. He will continue to share his important message about war.
Meet the Cast
- Pat O'Brien as Gramp Fry
- Robert Ryan as Dr. Evans
- Barbara Hale as Miss Brand
- Dean Stockwell as Peter Fry
- Richard Lyon as Michael
- Walter Catlett as The King
- Samuel S. Hinds as Dr. Knudson
- Charles Meredith as Mr. Piper
- Regis Toomey as Mr. Davis
- David Clarke as Barber
- Billy Sheffield as Red
- Johnny Calkins as Danny
- Teddy Infuhr as Timmy
- Dwayne Hickman as Joey
- Eilene Janssen as Peggy.
Some actors like Dale Robertson, William Smith (actor) and Russ Tamblyn appear in the film. But they are not listed in the main credits.
Movie Music
The song "Nature Boy" was a very important part of the movie's music. It was written by eden ahbez. An uncredited chorus sang it in the film. Nat King Cole's version of "Nature Boy" became a huge hit. It was number one on the Billboard music charts for eight weeks in 1948.
