Les fils de Mademoiselle

The way they kept calling her "sir" irked me, and the kids' behavior- as well as that of some adults- was annoying. But, I must admit both Greer and some of the kids managed to tug at my heartstrings several times throughout! Yes, I ugly-cried real tears, and that means that while not super good, it's still a good film. But, if you're anything like me, you'll be saying to yourself all along "Oh, if only life were really that simple!" And even though it's not at all, it's lovely that the 1950s respected such simplicity instead of looking down their noses at it.

A silly tale starring the brilliant noir tough, Robert Ryan. Ryan is miscast as a no-nonsense realist teaching young privledged boys truths regarding distant parents and why they are placed in the private school. Opposite a prim Greer Garson, Ryan buries his throbbing passions for her behind a mask of phony disinterest. It takes his discovery of fake letters that Garson penned to a diminutive boy for Ryan to unleash his libido and confess his loin surgings to her. In the end his passions save the boys from a departing Garson but leaves a confused widower and his loner son bewildered and lost.

I grew up in the 50's and like most kids my age was a big fan of the Mickey Mouse Club.In it's first season one of the segments was Spin & Marty.It was a serialized story about two boys at a western summer camp - who even got to ride horses thus becoming the envy of every boy watching. Spin (the All-American boy) was played by Tim Considine,and Marty (the snobby rich kid) by David Stollery.It became a HUGE hit & the sensation of that first season.Both boys appear in Her Twelve Men,and met there.Tim originally tried out for the part of Marty,but was offered Spin instead.Disney still needed a Marty and Tim told them he had recently worked with a boy who would be just right for the role,David Stollery from Her Twelve men!So this film was somewhat responsible for the ideal casting of that well-loved Disney serial.This information was related by Tim & David in the interview feature of the Disney Treasures DVD Box Set that came out a couple years ago.

I saw the film last year and I was very impressed with the subtle yet warm portrayal given by Greer Garson.Perhaps it was the empathy she displayed, that is all too lacking these days among the Educational elite.Or,it may have been the foreboding sense of tragedy(seen too often among todays youth) that could only been avoided by the devotion and tenderness of an educator such as was played by Ms. Garson in this underrated film.Its thesis is one that should never be considered"dated" or "outmoded":There is a priceless reward waiting for the professional who can achieve exploits in classroom erudition by forging an emotional bond with a neglected child.

What a wonderful, heartwarming film this was. A total pleasure to view, especially seeing Robert Ryan in a total change of pace as a strict teacher, but with a heart of gold. Our mayor in New York City should see this 1954 film. The genius claims that it doesn't matter how many children are in a class as long as there is an effective person in front of the room. How wrong he was. Though her class of 12 boys were troubled, she had the time to seek out the exact problem and work with the students to overcome their emotional problems, in their case-neglect by the parent. To me, Richard Haydn stole the show as the headmaster, a stern person who wouldn't tolerate insubordination but who came to realize in the end that Mrs. Stuart's methods were right on the mark. Greer Garson had the right sentiment to play the new teacher and Barry Sullivan added to the cast as the parent neglecting his nasty son. It is so true that boys will be boys, but even these boys could be reached.

I found it to be quite an affecting, warm-hearted film. Surely nobody could have played the new teacher as well as Miss Garson, and it is always a pleasure to see Robert Ryan playing a "good guy" instead of a pyscho-killer! Many excellent small parts for worthwhile players such as Barbara Lawrence, Ian Wolfe, Ivan Triesault, Frances Bergen, etc. Maybe it is just a big hunk of middle-brow sentimentality but I loved it!