The Happy Years (1950)

MGM
Directed by William A. Wellman
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Dean Stockwell is a bratty kid sent to reform school in a small New Jersey town. He doesn't get along with his classmates, spending most of his time picking fights, particularly with 'Tough' McCarty. The first year passes and he becomes a virtual outcast. He spends the summer with his uptight, wealthy family and returns for the second year. He takes up football under the guidance of his Latin teacher, 'The Old Roman'. On the same team as his old nemesis 'Tough' McCarty, they overcome their differences on the field. The film is at its best when it combines endearing Americana with childhood innocence: the pancake eating record, gerund vs gerundive in Latin class and the football scenes are particularly memorable.