Reach for Glory
Encyclopedia
Reach for Glory is a 1962
British
film adaptation of John Rae
's 1961
novel, The Custard Boys
, directed by Philip Leacock
. It received a United Nations Award.
1962 in film
The year 1962 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May - The Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards are officially founded by the Taiwanese government....
British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film adaptation of John Rae
John Rae (educator)
Dr John Rae was a British educator, author and novelist. He was headmaster of Taunton School and then Head Master of Westminster School ....
's 1961
1961 in literature
The year 1961 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*First English production of Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*Michael Halliday publishes his seminal paper on the systemic functional grammar model....
novel, The Custard Boys
The Custard Boys
The Custard Boys is a 1961 British novel by John Rae, focusing on the lives of children in a small village in World War II Norfolk dealing with an influx of war refugees. It is sometimes compared to Lord of the Flies, and was adapted to make the film Reach for Glory in 1962, and again for a...
, directed by Philip Leacock
Philip Leacock
Philip David Charles Leacock was an English television and film director and producer. His brother was documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock.-Career:...
. It received a United Nations Award.
Plot
A group of boys, evacuated during World War II from London to a coastal town, form a gang and play war games. Too young to fight in the war and afraid it will be over by the time they come of age, the group members initiate a battle with the local teenagers. Tomlinson, a local youth, invites an Austrian Jewish refugee with whom he has formed a close relationship to take part in the shenanigans. At first the Jewish boy, Grimm, is scorned because of his "Germanic" heritage but is later allowed to join. When Grimm runs off during a fight, the youths decide to give him a fake court-martial and execution, but real bullets are used by a freak mistake and Grimm is killed.Cast
- Harry AndrewsHarry AndrewsHarry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
- Capt. Curlew - Kay WalshKay WalshKay Walsh was an English actress and dancer. She grew up in Pimlico, raised by her grandmother....
- Mrs. Curlew - Michael Anderson Jr - Lewis Craig
- Oliver Grimm - Mark Stein
- Martin Tomlinson - John Curlew
- Freddie EldrettFreddie EldrettFreddie Eldrett was a British Actor and Director who started his career at the Windmill Theatre in London, where at just 18 years old he was one of the youngest entertainers to perform there....
- Willy Aldrich - James Luck - Michael Freen
- John CokerJohn CokerJohn Coker was a soldier in the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution, noted for a daring action during the Battle of San Jacinto that helped seal the decisive Texian victory.-Biography:...
- Peter Joy - Michael TrubshaweMichael TrubshaweMichael Trubshawe was a British actor and former officer in the Highland Regiment of the British Army. Trubshawe was very close friends with the famous British actor David Niven, serving as best man for both Niven's weddings, and is constantly referred to in Niven's memoirs The Moon's a Balloon,...
- Maj. Burton - Arthur HewlettArthur HewlettArthur Hewlett was a British actor.He is best remembered for his roles on television, including Quatermass and the Pit, Police Surgeon, The Avengers, The Saint, No Hiding Place, The Baron, The Troubleshooters, Menace, Follyfoot, The Changes, Blake's 7, Doctor Who Arthur Hewlett (12 March 1907...
- Vicar - Cameron HallCameron Hall (actor)-Selected filmography:* The Lilac Domino * Adventure's End * Yes, Madam? * Neutral Port * Spellbound * I Thank You * My Brother Jonathan * Man on the Run * Madeleine...
- Headmaster - Allan JeayesAllan JeayesAllan Jeayes was a British stage and movie actor.He starred as Howard Joyce in the original 1927 Broadway production of The Letter and played Sir Lawrence Wargarve in the 1943 London production of And Then There Were None.Jeayes made his film debut in the 1918 Nelson as Sir William Hamilton...
- Crabtree - Richard VernonRichard VernonRichard Vernon was a British actor. He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles...
- Dr. Aldrich - Russell WatersRussell WatersRussell Waters was a Scottish film actor.Waters was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. He began acting with the Old English Comedy and Shakespeare Company then appeared in repertory theatre, at the Old Vic and in the West End. On screen Waters generally...
- Mr. Freeman - Patricia HayesPatricia HayesPatricia Lawlor Hayes, OBE was an English comedy actress.Hayes was born in Streatham, London. As a child Hayes attended Sacred Heart School in Wandsworth....
- Mrs. Freeman - George PravdaGeorge PravdaGeorge Pravda was a Czechoslovakian film and television actor.He began his career in Czechoslovakia, where he was credited as Jirí Pravda, and then emigrated to the United Kingdom....
- Mr. Stein - John RaeJohn Rae (educator)Dr John Rae was a British educator, author and novelist. He was headmaster of Taunton School and then Head Master of Westminster School ....
- Lance Freeman - Alexis KannerAlexis KannerAlexis Kanner was a French-born Anglo Canadian actor, most notable for appearing in the ground-breaking TV series The Prisoner....
- Steven - Peter Furnell - Arthur Chettle
- John Pike - Felix
- Melvin Baker - Chettle's Lieutenant