The very first live action film I recall seeing was a Disney feature from 1956 called Westward Ho, The Wagons! that was directed by the prolific and fast working William Beaudine who did The Country Kid during his silent period.
Beaudine had an affinity with kids and with a kind of melodrama like this one where orphans are treated meanly by a relative ( played by George Nichols), deprived of food, and forced to work in the field while their overseer site and eats.
The story and treatment anticipate the much more well known Sparrows from three years later with Mary Pickford.
The boys are well portrayed by Wesley Barry, Bruce Guerin and freckle faced Spec O'Donnell.
I love Guerin's plea to a judge toward the end when they are removed from custody: " Can,'t you put him in jail now?"
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