The Happy Years (1950)

by Brian H.

Directed by: William Wellman

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Based on Owen Johnson’s “Lawrenceville Stories” books set at a private boy’s school in the 1890’s where young John Humperdink ‘Dink’ Stover (Dean Stockwell) learns life lessons as well as academics.

Kitty Cameo: When John is dropped off at the Lawrenceville School he encounters several boys sitting on the front steps. An older boy, ‘Tough’ McCarty (Darryl Hickman), is seated and holds a grey tabby kitten.

The Happy Years - sleeping tabby kitten lying on lap of Tough McCarty Darryl Hickman
The Happy Years - sleeping tabby kitten lying on lap of Tough McCarty Darryl Hickman with Coffee Colored Angel Alan Dinehart III, White Mountain Canary David Bair, Polar Beckstein Eddie LeRoy and Cheyenne Baxter Jerry Mickelsen animated gif

Since he is a new boy, the boys begin to give John bit of a razzing. McCarty stands up, still holding the kitten, then drops the cat down on a step.

The Happy Years - tabby kitten in hands of Tough McCarty Darryl Hickman
The Happy Years - tabby kitten being set on step by Tough McCarty Darryl Hickman
The Happy Years - tabby kitten looking up at Tough McCarty Darryl Hickman

McCarty introduces the other boys, Coffee Colored Angel (Alan Dinehart III), White Mountain Canary (David Bair), Polar Beckstein (Eddie LeRoy) and Cheyenne Baxter (Jerry Mickelsen) and orders John to bow to each boy. The cat is still lying on the step during this scene but does not appear again.

The Happy Years - tabby kitten on step behind Polar Beckstein Eddie LeRoy and Cheyenne Baxter Jerry Mickelsen

Final Mewsings: Cats don’t condone hazing.

Relevant Links:

IMDb logo
tcmlogo
Amazon logo




To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Share this with your cat and movie loving friends!