The Happy Years

The Happy Years is a 1950 American romantic comedy movie directed by William A. Wellman and is based on the novel The Varmint by Owen Johnson. It stars Dean Stockwell, Darryl Hickman, Scotty Beckett, Leon Ames, Leo G. Carroll, Robert Wagner. It was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

The Happy Years
Directed by	William Wellman
Written by	Harry Ruskin
Based on	The Varmint: A Lawrenceville Story by 1910 book Owen Johnson
Produced by	Carey Wilson
Starring	Dean Stockwell Darryl Hickman Scotty Beckett Leon Ames Margalo Gillmore
Cinematography	Paul C. Vogel
Edited by	John Dunning
Music by	Leigh Harline
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's, Inc.
Release date	1950
Running time	109-110 mins
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,393,000
Box office	$855,000

Plot

John Humperdink Stover, a troublemaker expelled from several schools, gets one last chance at a new academy to mature and receive a proper education. He befriends Tough McCarty and Tennessee Shad but continues to fight and play pranks on Connie Brown. Facing expulsion again, Stover has a change of heart and decides to reform, making his father proud.

Reception

According to MGM records, the movie earned $680,000 in the US and Canada and $175,000 elsewhere, making a loss of $1,096,000 for the studio.

Other websites

• The Happy Years on IMDb

• The Happy Years at AllMovie