Awhile back, I caught the TCM premiere of Bad Boy, the 1949 film which features Audie Murphy in his very first leading role. Starring alongside Audie in this somewhat-touching drama are Lloyd Nolan and Jane Wyatt, with James Gleason, Martha Vickers, and Rhys Williams in support. According to Robert Osborne, who always provides the viewer with a wealth of interesting information, the producer of this film insisted that Audie be cast in this role, otherwise he would not finance it.
Bad Boy is Audie's third movie, but it's the first one in which he has a starring role. In fact, the credits read, "And in his first starring role, Audie Murphy." Audie portrays Danny Lester, a violent and angry young man who has been running from the law since leaving home at age 13. Now 17, Danny is brought before the juvenile court on armed robbery and assault charges. The judge (Selena Royle) believes that Danny's hardened, unrepentant attitude warrants the severest punishment she can give him---the juvenile reformatory until adulthood, and then 20 years in the state prison.
However, Marshall Brown (Lloyd Nolan), of the Variety Clubs Boys' Ranch, who believes there are no hopeless cases, petitions the judge to release Danny into his custody. He feels sure that just as the Ranch has been successful at rehabilitating other young juvenile delinquents, it will do the same for Danny.
Against her better judgment, the judge agrees to Mr. Brown's request, and Danny is sent to the Ranch, where, Brown soon discovers, the troubled young man proves to be much more difficult to rehabilitate than the other boys entrusted to his care.
Will Danny ever turn from his rebellious, lawbreaking ways? Will he ever become a productive, giving member of society? Or is he destined to be one of the boys the Ranch is unable to reach? These are the questions which play out in the balance of the film.
Bad Boy is an extremely solid 3-star movie to me. It's a great "message" movie, about investing in the lives of others and about not giving up when the going gets tough. Audie Murphy is very good in this role. He is believable, and he brings to life a character I really cared about and rooted for. Audie's performance here in Bad Boy resulted in a 7-year contract with Universal, thus, establishing his career as an actor.
In this film, Audie is 24-years old, but I must say, he looks much younger. When you realize that this film was made a full four years after the end of the war, you really begin to understand that when he received all his many military awards, he was hardly more than a boy. It's kind of breathtaking to realize he was so young when he was in combat. (This is one of the publicity photos for Bad Boy. Wow! Does Audie look young!)
This film is definitely worth watching. I don't believe it's out on DVD; however, it is available through Amazon's instant video. If you are an Audie Murphy fan, you'll definitely want to catch him in his first starring role.
Happy viewing!!!
NOTE: All photos used in this article were obtained from the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website (HERE)
