Wild Boys of the Road” is the March Movie Classic in Bigfork

 “Wild Boys of the Road” is a movie that deals with the socio-economic issues of the depression era.  Made in 1933 it showed the depth of the depression and its effect on the lives of several teenagers who had to become hobos riding trains to survive. The film was directed by William Wellman and starred Frankie Darro. It is a heavy subject for Hollywood to tackle when crime films and musicals were a much better investment. It presents a side of the economic times that was important to preserve. The Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in 2013. Come and see this one shown on the big screen of the Edge Theatre in Bigfork.  It will be accompanied by Jack’ Nachbar's presentation providing a better understanding of the time period of the movie.  Date: Thursday, Thursday March 8th . Time: 6:30PM. Price: free of charge.

During the Depression, Hollywood was one of the few beneficiaries of the country’s tough times. For a nickel the movie-goer could get you a cartoon, a newsreel, a B-feature, and the main film. That could amount to four hours of entertainment for the price of a gallon of gasoline or a pack of cigarettes.  Between 60 and 80 million people were going to the movies once a week. Most of the movies were crime related, musicals or comedies, but a few slipped through that addressed the county’s problems. It shows there was still a heart in Hollywood for the distressed of the country. Critics in 1933 were mixed as to their opinions of “Wild Boy,s" but time has proven this movie’s worth.

Frankie Darro (1917-1976) American actor and stuntman began his career in silent movies as a child actor. As he grew up he progressed in roles in “talkies” in adventure, western, dramatic, and comedy films.  Later he became a character actor and voice-over artist. Remember the donkey called Lampwick in Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio”?

William Augustus Wellman (1896-1975) was an American film director best known for crime, adventure and action genre films.  Wellman directed over 80 films including “Wings” which became the first film to win an Oscar at the first Academy Awards ceremony.

Wellman also saw something special in Dorothy Coonan, an accomplished dancer, who played Sally in “Wild Boys of the Road”   He married her with a union that lasted through 7 kids and over 40 years until his death. She died at the age of 96 with seven children, 22 grand children and 12 great grand children.

So come enjoy a great 30s movie about the Depression and its effect on three youngsters forced to become hobos to survive. 

The movie is on the big screen of the Edge in Bigfork. Date and time: Thursday March 8^th  at 6:30PM. It will be worth going to Bigfork, because Jack will provide you with background about the movie and a cartoon of the period. An appropriate snack will be served courtesy of Jack and his wife/projectionist, Lynn.