Figure 1.--The Paul Street boys are seen here in their class room. The boys did not wear a school uniform, but many of the boys did wear rather formal suits, in many cases short pants suits. |
|
"The Boys' of Paul Stree" is a poignant anti-war film. It is a joint British-Hungarian production featuring boys from both countries. Although filmed in 1967, it was not released in the United States until 1969. The film is based on a 1906 novel by Hungarian author Ferenc Molnar, A Pal Utcai Fiuk. The book is much better known in Europe than America. The principal charcters are two rival bands of boys. The film is set in Budapest during 1906, before World War I.
"The Boys' of Paul Street" is a joint British-English production featuring boys from both countries. Although filmed in 1967, it was not released in the United States until 1969. I don't know why. In many theaters it was double-billed with
"Oliver!" "Oliver!" was a hugh hit and received more fanfare, but "Paul Street" did not go unforgotten; more than a few filmgoers thought it the better film. It is hard, however, to compete with the 'Oliver!' sound track and Mark Lester's brilliant performance. "The Boys' of Paul Street" was directed by Hungarian film maker Loltan Fabri. "Paul Street" was a joint Anglo-Hungarian production, filmed on location in Budapest. In the United States, the English language version was shown on TV by TBS several times, but I haven't seen it on TV since Jimmy Carter's presidency.
The film is rich in imagery. Many grown-up themes can be found, too. I particularly liked those opening credits. I think a few appear to have been made with
an old-fashioned, cranked camera. The changing tempo of the music and the images flashed on the screen reflect a world changing quickly and gearing up for a
larger conflict.
While filmed in Hungary, all of the Paul Street boys were British. Anthony Kemp played Nemecsek; William Burleigh played Boka; and John Moulder-Brown, in an early role, played the traitor, Gereb. The boys in the film perform beautifully. They bring their chaacters to life without being mawkish or maudlin. The English lads delivered their lines in English; the dubbed Hungarian voices are a reasonably good match.
The film is about two rival bands of boys, the word "street gang" would have formally be used, but in American English today sounds much to sinister for these boys. The main characters in the Paul Street Boys are Boka and Nemescsek (Nem-a chek). Their rivals are the Red Shirts. The adults in the film play only periferal roles.
|
The film is set in Budapest during 1907, the costuming however tends to be more modern. The opening credits feature photographs of old Budapest and the thme is played on a hurdy-gurdy. The combined affect is quite wistful and nostalgic.
The Boys' of Paul Street is a poignant anti-war film. As the 20th century opens, a growing population and commercial development is changing the face of Budapest. Demolition of old buildings and construction of new buildings are rapidly proceeding. A group of schoolboys defend their hold on the last vacant lot in their neighborhood from the enchrochment from a rival gang--the Red Shirts. The city has grown rapidly and there is no alternative playground. The lot is their "turf" and the Paul Street boys must defend it if they are to keep it.
Nemecsek is the smallest and more sensitive of the Paul Street Boys. He is as much a mascot as a member of the gang. He is determined to show his friends that he "belongs" and determines to prove himself.
The Red Shirts appear to be a formidable, well-organized rival group. Nemecsek sets out on his own to spy on the Red Shirts to gain an advantage for his Paul Street comrades. He is caught and thrown into a lake and comes down with a severe cold. His cold only worsens as he and his friends prepare for the climatic clash with the Red Shirts. On he day of the fight, Nemecsek leaves his sick bed to join the fray. The Paul Street boys prevail, but Nemecsek becomes deathly ill and his friends have to carry him home. He dies later that day. The struggle proves all for nothing as the following week construction of a new apartment building begins on the apartment building.
The storyline is deceptively simple. The absurity and folly of war are obvious themes, but the film offersmuch more. The setting is Europe a few years before World War I, before the horrors of that War claimed honor and idealism among ts victims.
One scene that I found memorable was the one in which Nemecsek, thrown into the pool by several Redshirts. He comes out of the water to face the gang's jeers.
Asked if it was good, his brave answer silences them and gains their respect.
|
The boys wear coats and large ties/bows typical of the early 20th century. Many boys have heavy pullovers. Many of the boys wear shorts--both above and below the knee lengths. All of the boys wear long stockings or kneesocks. At the film's climax the boys add peaked caps. The style of the caps is not like an English-style school cap, but rather a kind of military-style student cap worn in Hungary.
You might wonder just why a British and Hungarian group was cooperating on this project. Hungary was, after all still a communist country. For the British production costs were probably lower in Hungary. Hungary's Communist Government undoubtedly clearned the ptoject with Moscow. Thde communists take a varied approach to war. Whennit is te Germans invading Russia, no sacrifuce is to great. At other times, especially for a film to be marketed in the West, war is depicted as senceless. Of course 1967 was at the peak of the Vietnam War. The Communist line was to fuel the anti-war movement. Twentieth Century Fox's delay in releasing the film may reflect the shift in America's attitude of supporting thd War to by 1969 the expanded strength of the Peace Movement.
The performances of this youthful cast are unbelievable. An older set of performers might have made a film about honor, courage, and real, genuine friendship melodramatic or
silly. This film, though heartbreaking at the end, is thoroughly believable. I last saw this film in the summer of 1978 when WTBS showed it late one night. I watched it with a group of college students who'd never seen the film before. Not a single one left the film before it was over, and they all agreed that it's one you'll never forget. -- John
I have seen this film and as far as I can tell it keeps faithful to the book. The setting is a real location in Budapest. The school is real and not too far away is the Botanical Garden. The film and story can be understood at different level. -- William
There is no doubt that this is a well-made film worth viewing. Like most film and literature with an anti-War message, the theme is that war is terrible and should be avoided. The first point is certainly true and the consequences are so dreadful that they should be avoided. The second is much more debateable. There are some war that may be pointless. The dynastic wars fought by European royal families in the 18th century may hve been largely pointless, at least for the common people. There are, however, consequences wether a country chooses to fight or not fight a war. Britain's and France's decesion to avoid fighting a war almost resulted in an terrible end to both France and Britin. Only the intrvention of the United States saved Britain and enabled the liberaion of France. Now it is true that the issues are rrely as clear cut as Wirld War II. Amrica's decesion to fight in Korea ws more of an optional War. The conseuences was a bloddy 3-year war abd the loss of 2-3 million lives, mostly Koreans and Chinese. But look at Korea today and compare North and South Korea, It is difficult to conclude that the sacrifice was not worthwhile. Very few of the pacifists opposed to war would choose to live in North Korea. -- Dennis
Movie makers have produced several other versions of "The Boys of Paul Street. The films were made when anti-war sentiment was prevalent. The first film version was "A Pál utcai fiúk" (1919) was made in the aftermath of World War I. This was a silent film by Hungarian director Béla Balogh.
"No Greater Glory" (1934) American film by U.S. director Frank Borzage and released by Columbia Pictures. It was made during the period in which isolationist and anti-war sentiment was pronounced. At about the same time, "I ragazzi della via Paal" (1935) was made by Italian film directors Alberto Mondadori and Mario Monicelli. We do not know much about this version, but we doubt an anti-war film was made in Fascist Italy as they were invading Ethiopia.
A reader writes, "I'd like to see this version, but I only know of it. Makes me think the Fascists must have skipped the last chapter of the book when they decided to make this film!"
"The Boys of Paul Street" (1969) was a British/Hungarian production, directed by the Hungarian director Zoltán Fábri. It was made kin the anti-war enviroment following the Vietnam War.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main movie page]
[Return to the Main alphabetical movie page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Cloth and textiles]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
