Figure 1.--Here Robbie and Gavin are after their fight at school. Gavin then takes Robbie home to get cleaned up. Gavin's mother gives Robbie on of Gavin's old suits. Here is one quible I have with the film. I can't conceive of a mem welcoming a boy into her home that had just fought with her son and ripped his clothes, let alone giving him a replacement suit.

Robbie's mother was a Scottish girl who disgraced the family by marrying an Irish Catholic. When his parents die, Robbie comes to live with his aunt's family in a small Scottish village. His auntb is loving, but his uncle unsympathetic and cheap. Robbie becomes deeply attached to his greatgrandfather--Dandy. The family is staunchly Church of Scotland, but allow Robbie to go to Catholic church when he insists. There is an emotional scene in the film, when Robbie shows up in the Catholic Chirch, the priest tells him, "I've been waiting for you Robert Shannon." Robbie's uncle is a terrible penny pincher and sells Robbie's prized possession--his tricycle. The boys have a strict, but understanding schoolmaster who immediately sees his academic abilities and helps Robbie out when he is older. Robbie has trouble in school. Not only is he Catholic and Irish, but he arrives in school with a green suit. He is teased and bullied by the other boys. Dandy his great grandfather advises him to pick out the most respected boy and fight him. This happens to be a well-to-do boy--Gavin Blair. Gavin is one of the few boys that hadn't been ganging up on Robbie. Robbie follows Dandy's advise and picks a fight. Here Robbie and Gavin are after their fight at school (figure 1). Gavin then takes Robbie home to get cleaned up. Gavin's mother gives Robbie on of Gavin's old suits. Here is one quible I have with the film. I can't conceive of a mem welcoming a boy into her home that had just fought with her son and ripped his clothes, let alone giving him a replacement suit. Robbie and Gavin become close froends. A girl he meets on the village green becomes sweet on him--Allison Keith. Here the film only deals briefly with the childhood frienship. There is one scene where Robbie, who is with Gavin and Allison, find the golden plover egg. (Collecting bird eggs was a popular activity.) Gavin had been looking for the golden plover egg for his collection. Gavin is very serious about it--the boys only take a single egg out of any nest they find. Robbie gives it to his friend. Allison helps settle a dispute when Gavin does not want to accept it. Gavin givesx Robbie his microscope. Robbie shows an aptitude for science and seeks to be a doctor. Hisvuncle, however, refused to help him.

Created: March 15, 2004
Last updated: March 15, 2004