BAD BOY
"I can't ever remember being young." --Audie Murphy
After two small roles Allied Artists decided the time was right to capitalize on Audie Murphy’s popularity and put him as the lead in Bad Boy.
Murphy plays Danny Lester an eighteen year old juvenile delinquent who has gotten into trouble once too often. He and an associate assault and rob at gunpoint some gamblers at a high stakes poker game at the hotel where he works. His buddy escapes but Lester is caught by Lloyd Nolan who coincidentally plays Marshall Brown who runs the Variety Club Boys Ranch. The judge, wonderfully played by Selena Royale, sentences him to reform school, and when he’s of age, twenty years in the state pen. Marshall Brown, called Coach by the boys, intercedes in Lester's behalf. The judge is skeptical and tells him the boy is hopeless. Brown replies: ‘there are no hopeless boys your honor, only people who grow hopeless about them.” The judge sends him to the Boys Ranch and gives him six months to rehabilitate Lester.
Danny Lester, with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas must learn how to become a productive member of society. We’ve seen this plot as far back as Boys Town, with Spencer Tracy, Angels With Dirty Faces, with the Dead End Kids, with James Cagney, and They Made Me A Criminal, also with the Dead End Kids but this time with John Garfield.
Murphy plays Danny Lester an eighteen year old juvenile delinquent who has gotten into trouble once too often. He and an associate assault and rob at gunpoint some gamblers at a high stakes poker game at the hotel where he works. His buddy escapes but Lester is caught by Lloyd Nolan who coincidentally plays Marshall Brown who runs the Variety Club Boys Ranch. The judge, wonderfully played by Selena Royale, sentences him to reform school, and when he’s of age, twenty years in the state pen. Marshall Brown, called Coach by the boys, intercedes in Lester's behalf. The judge is skeptical and tells him the boy is hopeless. Brown replies: ‘there are no hopeless boys your honor, only people who grow hopeless about them.” The judge sends him to the Boys Ranch and gives him six months to rehabilitate Lester.
Danny Lester, with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas must learn how to become a productive member of society. We’ve seen this plot as far back as Boys Town, with Spencer Tracy, Angels With Dirty Faces, with the Dead End Kids, with James Cagney, and They Made Me A Criminal, also with the Dead End Kids but this time with John Garfield.
What separates this movie from the others is Audie Murphy. With one exception the film is bereft of the usual Hollywood version of street kids with a dash of schmaltz thrown in. Murphy, through his own upbringing and combat experience, gives Lester a credible hard edged bitterness we don’t see in films of this nature.
The studio execs at Allied Artists had to have been wary of their untested future star and to protect their lead they could not have chosen a better debut vehicle. Audie could easily identify with the lead character. The all-male, military style environment was something he was used to and that too would help him feel at ease.
Murphy was a much better actor than given credit, and it shows when surrounded with a steady cast of supporting actors. Bad Boy has Stanley Clements, Dickie Moore, Tommy Cook and Johnny Lydon as his barrack mates. This may have been the only movie where the majority of the cast were in his peer group, and as such alleviated two issues that would follow him for most of career; his stature and youthful appearance. With the exception of Lydon, who was six feet, they were all close to the same height, and while they were all in the same age group, Murphy had a more mature look than the rest.
The studio execs at Allied Artists had to have been wary of their untested future star and to protect their lead they could not have chosen a better debut vehicle. Audie could easily identify with the lead character. The all-male, military style environment was something he was used to and that too would help him feel at ease.
Murphy was a much better actor than given credit, and it shows when surrounded with a steady cast of supporting actors. Bad Boy has Stanley Clements, Dickie Moore, Tommy Cook and Johnny Lydon as his barrack mates. This may have been the only movie where the majority of the cast were in his peer group, and as such alleviated two issues that would follow him for most of career; his stature and youthful appearance. With the exception of Lydon, who was six feet, they were all close to the same height, and while they were all in the same age group, Murphy had a more mature look than the rest.
The three established adult stars were: James Gleason, himself a veteran of the Spanish-American War, who is called Chief, and rides herd over the boys. He is as sure Danny will come to no good as Marshall is that Danny can be saved. Mrs. Maud Marshall is played by Jane Wyatt. We’ve seen her in un-Margaret Anderson Father Knows Best roles in Pitfall and, The Man Who Cheated Himself. Here she displays the same comforting, caring maternal persona that made her a television icon. Lloyd Nolan is Marshall Brown, the Coach.
Nolan is the glue that holds this film together. In the ranks of under-appreciated B movie stars, you can put his name near the top of the list. Wyatt and Nolan look perfectly matched.
Nolan is the glue that holds this film together. In the ranks of under-appreciated B movie stars, you can put his name near the top of the list. Wyatt and Nolan look perfectly matched.
Lester gets into a fight with Stanley Clements on his first day at the ranch, gives him a shiner and threatens James Gleason with a broken chair leg. Nolan intervenes. Rather than exacerbate the situation he offers Lester two job choices. Lester chooses to work in the kitchen at the Marshall home.
Danny arrives an hour early and takes to household chores like a duck to water. (Fond memories were brought back to me when he's placing two large pots of boiling water to defrost the refrigerator as it was something I did as a kid.) Mrs. Marshall asks how he knew to do that. He said he did a lot of housework for his Mom. She recalls his mom died when he was young, and if he’d like to talk about it. He grows sullen, and politely, yet resolutely tells her, “I’d rather not talk about her if you don’t mind.” You don’t have to be a Dr. Jennifer Melfi to know Mrs. Marshall is a surrogate for Danny’s mom who died a painful death when he was twelve. She will later tell Audie that she and her husband lost a child when he was an infant, yet with the ranch, they feel they have eighty-two children of their own.
Nolan wants to know what would make a kid like Lester who grew up in a nice home in a nice neighborhood well liked by his employers, turn into a vicious juvenile delinquent.
We are given a clue when on his first night there he repeatedly calls out, “Mom, Mom, Mom.” There are other indications as well. He had beaten a fellow employee at the hotel when called, 'son,' and does the same to a gambler he robbed.
Danny arrives an hour early and takes to household chores like a duck to water. (Fond memories were brought back to me when he's placing two large pots of boiling water to defrost the refrigerator as it was something I did as a kid.) Mrs. Marshall asks how he knew to do that. He said he did a lot of housework for his Mom. She recalls his mom died when he was young, and if he’d like to talk about it. He grows sullen, and politely, yet resolutely tells her, “I’d rather not talk about her if you don’t mind.” You don’t have to be a Dr. Jennifer Melfi to know Mrs. Marshall is a surrogate for Danny’s mom who died a painful death when he was twelve. She will later tell Audie that she and her husband lost a child when he was an infant, yet with the ranch, they feel they have eighty-two children of their own.
Nolan wants to know what would make a kid like Lester who grew up in a nice home in a nice neighborhood well liked by his employers, turn into a vicious juvenile delinquent.
We are given a clue when on his first night there he repeatedly calls out, “Mom, Mom, Mom.” There are other indications as well. He had beaten a fellow employee at the hotel when called, 'son,' and does the same to a gambler he robbed.
He still has trouble with his bunk-mates and Nolan feels he’s going to lose the kid. He wants to dig deeper into Lester’s past. He speaks to his step-Dad, (Rhys Williams) who wants nothing to do with him. He says he loved him like a son, gave him everything, and now he’s totally out of his life. We get to the nitty gritty when he speaks to his step-sister (Martha Vickers). Vickers assists her Dad in some sort of self-help through psychological healing traveling road show. Vickers tells Nolan that Danny killed his Mother, beat his father and burned their revival/medical healing tent. A flash back takes us to when it all went downhill for young Mr. Lester.
His Mom lies in bed suffering terribly. Danny works for the town pharmacist and gives her a couple of pills that he heard would help her rest. It isn’t long after she takes the pills does she pass.
His step-father repeatedly calls him son, a son who failed him, a son who killed his Mother. And we see Murphy/Lester in shadowy darkness. “Don’t ever call yourself that. You’re not my father,” Danny cries, then beats him and leaves to live on his own at the age of thirteen.
One of the biggest reasons given for Murphy's film popularity is that he’s real. And in this scene I believe he’s definitely real. The young actor shows as much true emotion of loss and suffering than I’ve seen in any of his films. Just as Murphy the actor and war hero are linked, so too must we link his well documented PTSD.
Lester's father died when he very young, and for all purposes was an orphan. Murphy’s mother died when he was sixteen and orphaned and soon after went on his own. From his autobiography "To Hell And Back": “My mother, a sad-eyed, silent woman, toiled eternally. As a baby, I sat strapped like a papoose in a yard swing while she fought the weeds in a nearby field.” (page 6). Danny never knew his father, and yet in a symbolic way may have been said to have left Danny. Audie’s father left when he was twelve: “He was not lazy, but he had a genius for not considering the future. One day he gave up. He simply walked out of our lives, and we never heard from him again. My mother, attempting to keep her brood together, worked harder than ever. But illness overtook her. Gradually she grew weaker and sadder. And when I was sixteen she died.” (pg. 7). I don’t think Murphy was a good enough actor, at that point in his career to convincingly fake the emotions he displayed in that scene, and in later years he would have been too proud to do so.
His step-father repeatedly calls him son, a son who failed him, a son who killed his Mother. And we see Murphy/Lester in shadowy darkness. “Don’t ever call yourself that. You’re not my father,” Danny cries, then beats him and leaves to live on his own at the age of thirteen.
One of the biggest reasons given for Murphy's film popularity is that he’s real. And in this scene I believe he’s definitely real. The young actor shows as much true emotion of loss and suffering than I’ve seen in any of his films. Just as Murphy the actor and war hero are linked, so too must we link his well documented PTSD.
Lester's father died when he very young, and for all purposes was an orphan. Murphy’s mother died when he was sixteen and orphaned and soon after went on his own. From his autobiography "To Hell And Back": “My mother, a sad-eyed, silent woman, toiled eternally. As a baby, I sat strapped like a papoose in a yard swing while she fought the weeds in a nearby field.” (page 6). Danny never knew his father, and yet in a symbolic way may have been said to have left Danny. Audie’s father left when he was twelve: “He was not lazy, but he had a genius for not considering the future. One day he gave up. He simply walked out of our lives, and we never heard from him again. My mother, attempting to keep her brood together, worked harder than ever. But illness overtook her. Gradually she grew weaker and sadder. And when I was sixteen she died.” (pg. 7). I don’t think Murphy was a good enough actor, at that point in his career to convincingly fake the emotions he displayed in that scene, and in later years he would have been too proud to do so.
To continue with the theme that Mr. Murphy is confronting his demons in this scene it's important to know that Audie was given a tremendous responsibility at a very young age. At the age of eight he would hunt for the family food. He dropped out after the fifth grade in order to take care of and feed his family. Often the only food they had was what Audie managed to hunt. When serving in Europe he was often promoted, and with each promotion came added responsibility. Even after the war was over he continued to look after his younger siblings.
I don’t think Audie Murphy ever knew the luxury of having to think only about himself. He may have been undersized, baby-faced, and at times prone to sickness, but before he entered the Army, life had already made him a hard-assed, grown up man. He details the first time he killed the enemy.
“We flush a couple of Italian officers…they mount two magnificent white horses and gallop madly away…Dropping to one knee I fire twice. The men tumble from the horses, roll over and lie still.”
““Now why did you do that?” asks a lieutenant….”You shouldn’t have fired.”
“It’s not easy to shed the idea that life is sacred. The Lieutenant has not yet accepted the fact that we have been put into the field to deal out death…I feel no qualms; no pride; no remorse. There is only a weary indifference that will follow me throughout the war.” (pgs.10-11).
Near the end of the war, when he alone of his original members remains: :
“I feel burnt out, physically and emotionally. Let the hill be strewn with corpses so long as I do not have to turn over the bodies and find the familiar face of a friend.” (pg. 208) when you combine the traumas of his childhood and compound them with his combat experiences it’s no wonder he suffered PTSD(and this film is self-revelatory). The wonder is that he was able to function at all.
I don’t think Audie Murphy ever knew the luxury of having to think only about himself. He may have been undersized, baby-faced, and at times prone to sickness, but before he entered the Army, life had already made him a hard-assed, grown up man. He details the first time he killed the enemy.
“We flush a couple of Italian officers…they mount two magnificent white horses and gallop madly away…Dropping to one knee I fire twice. The men tumble from the horses, roll over and lie still.”
““Now why did you do that?” asks a lieutenant….”You shouldn’t have fired.”
“It’s not easy to shed the idea that life is sacred. The Lieutenant has not yet accepted the fact that we have been put into the field to deal out death…I feel no qualms; no pride; no remorse. There is only a weary indifference that will follow me throughout the war.” (pgs.10-11).
Near the end of the war, when he alone of his original members remains: :
“I feel burnt out, physically and emotionally. Let the hill be strewn with corpses so long as I do not have to turn over the bodies and find the familiar face of a friend.” (pg. 208) when you combine the traumas of his childhood and compound them with his combat experiences it’s no wonder he suffered PTSD(and this film is self-revelatory). The wonder is that he was able to function at all.
For five years Danny believes he has killed his mom.
As Marshall continues to find out the background of Lester questions the coroner who did the autopsy on his Mom. He learns she died from a heart attack and not the pills. All the sleeping pills did was to bring her peace for a short time. The riddle has been solved. He can go back and tell Danny. There is one problem. While Marshall was away Lester locked up the Chief, stole a car, and engages in a standoff with police. Nolan approaches Lester who points a gun at him and says, “I’ve killed before and I’ll do it again.” Nolan tells him the truth about Lester's Mom and he drops his gun, embraces Nolan and is taken to the hospital. This is a feel good story with a happy ending, as it should be.
Murphy went on to become the best of all Western stars because he was the most real of all stars. If any other actor picks off a man riding away on a speeding horse you accept that as Hollywood,. When Audie Murphy does it you nod your head and think, "Yep. He could do it." It's him riding full speed on a galloping horse. or traversing a treacherous trail not a stuntman. His fights are buckle to buckle short and brutal. The demographics of those who enjoyed low budget Westerns knew b.s. from the truth and Audie was the truth. The only negative, and a big one, was because of the characters he played, and the responsibility he felt for his audience, Audie would not address his demons. In, The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming's (Murphy) fear and anxiety is shared by the other soldiers in his company. In Bad Boy, his traumas are his own.
As Marshall continues to find out the background of Lester questions the coroner who did the autopsy on his Mom. He learns she died from a heart attack and not the pills. All the sleeping pills did was to bring her peace for a short time. The riddle has been solved. He can go back and tell Danny. There is one problem. While Marshall was away Lester locked up the Chief, stole a car, and engages in a standoff with police. Nolan approaches Lester who points a gun at him and says, “I’ve killed before and I’ll do it again.” Nolan tells him the truth about Lester's Mom and he drops his gun, embraces Nolan and is taken to the hospital. This is a feel good story with a happy ending, as it should be.
Murphy went on to become the best of all Western stars because he was the most real of all stars. If any other actor picks off a man riding away on a speeding horse you accept that as Hollywood,. When Audie Murphy does it you nod your head and think, "Yep. He could do it." It's him riding full speed on a galloping horse. or traversing a treacherous trail not a stuntman. His fights are buckle to buckle short and brutal. The demographics of those who enjoyed low budget Westerns knew b.s. from the truth and Audie was the truth. The only negative, and a big one, was because of the characters he played, and the responsibility he felt for his audience, Audie would not address his demons. In, The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming's (Murphy) fear and anxiety is shared by the other soldiers in his company. In Bad Boy, his traumas are his own.
The cemeteries in Europe are filled with thousands of young Americans who would have loved to have lived as long as forty six years of age. The tragedy of his death is that he was on the cusp of tackling another assignment.
Audie Murphy's heroism, bravery, willingness to sacrifice, and accept and embrace responsibility and leadership were not unique. There were tens of thousands who displayed an act or acts of heroism equal to that of Murphy's. In the battle for Cisterna he witnesses another Medal of Honor recipient from his own company Sylvester Antolak. Audie was shorter and lighter than the average G.I. in WW2 but not demonstrably. He lied about his age to enlist as did tens of thousands of Americans. The average age of a rifleman was between 18-20. It could be said Audie was a true representative of the combat infantryman and it was how he wanted to be remembered. His love of country, devotion to duty, and willingness to assume a leadership role would have seen him at the forefront for the treatment of PTSD had he not died in a plane crash at forty-six.
The reticence of returning vets to speak of their experiences is understandable, so too would be their chafing at seeking help. Mr. Murphy sums up the men who fought, the greatest generation we call them, this way: "But I believe...in men taking their beatings without whimper and their triumphs without boasting." Had he lived he would, in my opinion, made another outstanding contribution to his country. We are indeed blessed to have had men like Audie Murphy.
Audie Murphy's heroism, bravery, willingness to sacrifice, and accept and embrace responsibility and leadership were not unique. There were tens of thousands who displayed an act or acts of heroism equal to that of Murphy's. In the battle for Cisterna he witnesses another Medal of Honor recipient from his own company Sylvester Antolak. Audie was shorter and lighter than the average G.I. in WW2 but not demonstrably. He lied about his age to enlist as did tens of thousands of Americans. The average age of a rifleman was between 18-20. It could be said Audie was a true representative of the combat infantryman and it was how he wanted to be remembered. His love of country, devotion to duty, and willingness to assume a leadership role would have seen him at the forefront for the treatment of PTSD had he not died in a plane crash at forty-six.
The reticence of returning vets to speak of their experiences is understandable, so too would be their chafing at seeking help. Mr. Murphy sums up the men who fought, the greatest generation we call them, this way: "But I believe...in men taking their beatings without whimper and their triumphs without boasting." Had he lived he would, in my opinion, made another outstanding contribution to his country. We are indeed blessed to have had men like Audie Murphy.
But what of, Bad Boy, the movie I’m writing about? Remember that? His lack of acting experience is evident, but equally evident is his charisma, pleasant screen appearance, the bona fide toughness and sex appeal that would draw men and women into theaters to watch him on the big screen; and the camera liked him.
Many consider his best roles , The Red Badge of Courage, and To Hell and Back. (He did not want to play himself, he recommended Tony Curtis who appeared with him in Kansas Raiders.) In my opinion there are several movies that show more of his acting skills. To name a few, Ride Clear of Diablo, Tumbleweed, No Name on The Bullet, Destry, and The Unforgiven. (John Huston specifically asked for him)
Bad Boy is a B movie gem. There are no distractions, for example a love affair between the troubled youth and the daughter of one of the adult leads. The entire focus of the movie is on one kid and Murphy is more than up to the role. Bad Boy is in my opinion, one of his best films, and as close to seeing the troubled Audie Murphy as he would allow.
Book Reference:
Murphy, Audie, To Hell and Back. New York: MJF Books, 1949.
Online Sources:
http://audiemurphy.com/congress_009.htm
http://society3rdid.org/17-medal-of-honor-recipients/31-antolak-sylvester
https://charliecompany.org/audie-murphy/
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-28-me-17389-story.html
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322299/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Many consider his best roles , The Red Badge of Courage, and To Hell and Back. (He did not want to play himself, he recommended Tony Curtis who appeared with him in Kansas Raiders.) In my opinion there are several movies that show more of his acting skills. To name a few, Ride Clear of Diablo, Tumbleweed, No Name on The Bullet, Destry, and The Unforgiven. (John Huston specifically asked for him)
Bad Boy is a B movie gem. There are no distractions, for example a love affair between the troubled youth and the daughter of one of the adult leads. The entire focus of the movie is on one kid and Murphy is more than up to the role. Bad Boy is in my opinion, one of his best films, and as close to seeing the troubled Audie Murphy as he would allow.
Book Reference:
Murphy, Audie, To Hell and Back. New York: MJF Books, 1949.
Online Sources:
http://audiemurphy.com/congress_009.htm
http://society3rdid.org/17-medal-of-honor-recipients/31-antolak-sylvester
https://charliecompany.org/audie-murphy/
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-28-me-17389-story.html
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322299/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1