Tom Brown of Culver (1932) DVD-R

Starring Ben Alexander, Tom Brown, Andy Devine, Eugene Pallette, Slim Summerville,
Sidney Toler, H.B. Warner, Tyrone Power
Directed by William Wyler

Print: black/white
Runtime: 82 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

William Wyler directed this melodramatic story about a boy who, after growing up in the
shadow of his father, learns the old man wasn't all he claimed to be. Tom Brown (played, as
coincidence would have it, by an actor named Tom Brown) is a boy who has been struggling
to help his mother keep body and soul together ever since the death of his father during
World War I. The elder Brown died in combat when Tom was a baby, but her heroism
earned him a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor, and in tribute to his father a local
American Legion post presents Tom with a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Culver
Military Academy; while Tom has his doubts about his future as a soldier, he certainly
understands the value of an education and accepts. However, its not until after he's enrolled
at Culver that Tom learns the truth about his father — "Doc" Brown (H.B. Warner) fled in the
midst of battle, exchanging his identification with a dead soldier, and has been living the life
of a coward ever since. Will Tom be able to restore the good name of the Brown family?
Andy Devine, Sidney Toler, Slim Summerville and a young Tyrone Power highlight the
supporting cast.