Alphabetical Movie Listings: Pm-Pz

You can also slect the movies available on HBC by using this alphabetical movie listing. At this time only a few movies have been analized by HBC for clothing information, but more pages are being added all the time. We incourage readers to submit information about their favorite films.

Pobre Nino Rico - (Mexico?, 1980s)

Rather disappointing movie about a rich boy unwanted by his parents. The boy (Pablo ), wears long pants at the beginning of the film, but I didn't see it through. Boyus usdually wear long pants in Mexican films.

Poil de Carotte (France 1932)

French child star Robert Lynem appeared in the 1932 film 'Poil de Carotte' (The Red Head). He was France's most popular boy film star during the in the 1930s. He joined the Resistnce during the World War II German occupation. He was captured an executed by the NAZIs (1943). He was reported shot in Karisrube. We are not sure what German security facility was located there. In the film, Robert's screen father was Harry Baur. During the German occupation, he was denounced as a Jew. The Nazis starved him to death in a concentration camp.

Poison Pen - (UK, 1939)

Roddy McDowall has a bit part.

Poison Ivy - (US)

Made for TV movie. Many boys wear in short pants at a summer camp. A good over view of the liesure shorts American boys were wearing in the 1980s. One shy little boy keeps running away. Eventually he puts on a dress when he sneaks into the girl's camp.

(The) Polkadot Kid and Big Henry -

Chris Barnes.

Polly - (US, 1989)

Musical adaptation of "Pollyana."

Polly Tix in Washington (US, 1932)

One of Shirley Temple's early films was a short titlked "Polly Tix in Washington". The entire cast is made up of preschool children, and the star is 4 year old Shirley Temple. She plays a high-priced call girl named Polly Tix who is sent by corrupt officials to influence a backwoods politician. The entire cast is in diapers, even though they are actually too old to need them in real life. Modern viewers are sometimes startled at how differently things were viewed 72 years ago. Many of Shirley Temple's earliest films were short subjects with all-diapered casts. See "War Babies" (AKA "What Price Gloria"), "Pie Covered Wagon", "The Kid's Last Fight" and several others. To find out more, google "Baby Burlesk". She stood out in these films which led to her storied film career.

Pollyana - (US)

Classic Mary Pickford silent. The orphan boy in the film wears knickers and often goes barefoot during the summer as was customary at the time.

Pollyanna - (US, 1960)

An orphan's optimism transforms a feuding town, supposedly in Alabama--but the movie gives more of the ambience of the midwest. Disney production staring Haley Mills with a small role for a cute Kevin Corcaran (?) who is about 10. Haley Mills was really quite superb in the role. The whole film is a real tear jearker. Set in the early 1900s. It is a costume extravaganza, at least for Pollyana, but the boys' costumes are very plain. The local orphan boys wear knickers and the girls sailor suits. There is one scene at the fair which looks like a boy in a sailor suit, but it must have been a girl. Rather an appealing story, but nothing of special interest even though it begins with boys skinny dipping in the swimming hole.

(The) Pony Soldiers - (US, 1952)

A Canadian Mounty tries to single handedly subdue rebellious Indians. He winds up adopting an orphaned Indian boy who wears a loin cloth.

Popeye - (US, 1935)

A sissy boy in shorts, ankle socks, sissy shoes, and lace-frilled blouse is taught by Popeye how to fight bad boys.

Popi - (US, 1969)

Well made movie about two Puerto Rican boys who their father tries to pass off as Cuban refugees. The plot becomes undone when the father and the boys begin missing each other.

Poppa and Me -

Matthew Labrouioux

Por eso - (Mexico?, 19??)

A train with nine orphans from the American Civil War is protected by two men. In Spanish.

Poseidon Adventure -


(The) Possession of Joel Delaney - (US, 1960s)

Paroled murderer terrorizes a woman and her two children. This is a remarkably nasty film which a HBC reader remembers because it was partly shot in the East Village where he was living in the late '60s. It starred Shirley MacLaine (whose psychic antennae aparently weren't working when she signed). On location shooting of this kind was still a rarity then and he saw the movie when it came out to see what they did with the neighborhood. There is an amazingly anti-Hispanic bias in the basic plot which is that MacLaine's younger brother is possessed by the soul of a Spanish devil worshipper. The culmination is that he kidnaps MacLaine, her daughter and son, takes them out to what looks like the Hamptons (empty and deserted in winter back in those days) and forces the boy (who I recall as being about 12 years old) to dance withoutvhis clothes in front of him, his mother, and his sister. Thecreader remembers thinking that the kid looked genuinely cold and terrified. He remembers being shocked that something like this had been made and wondered how the boy's parents had allowed it to happen. Don't know what it would look like after what I've seen in the following 30+ years. But the combination of bigotry and child exploitation seemed stunning

(The) Power of One - (US?, 1992)

A powerful, epic novel (I'm not sure how much is true) of a South African orphan, adapted from the autobiography by Bryce Courtenay. He was of English parentage and scorned by the Afrikanners. The fair-headed P.K. is played a 7 by Guy Witcher. He is raised by a Zulu nanny, but sent away to an Afrikaner boarding school when his mother dies. He becomes a victim of a school bully who nearly kills him during a pep rally for Hitler. He is later sent to live with an elderly German man who after the war begins is interred. They spend several years in the prison camp. The 12-year old P.K. is played by Simon Fenton. He is apauled by the treatment of blacks in the camp. He is befriended by one black prisoner who teaches him to box. He grows up to be an anti-apartheid activist. The camp sequences are some of the best parts of the film and both boys give excellent performances. The younger P.K. wears shorts, as does the 12-year, but he puts on longs when he dresses up. There are scenes as an older boy in a British-style public school (private secondary school). The boys wear red blazers, but only the older boys wear short trousers.

(The) Power of a Hymn - (US, 1912)

This Kalem Studio silent film has a cast includng Judson Melford.

Prehysteria 2 - (US, 1994)

Miniature dinosaurs help a boy outwit a malevolent governess who want to pack him off to a military boarding school.

Prelude to Fame (England, 1950)

This English film was a Rank film directed by Fergus McDonell. It is based on a story by Aldous Huxley. It was a flop at the box office. The movie is set in Iltay. An English boy, Nick (Robert Dowell) is vacatoning with his parents, John Morell and mother Catherine. Morell is a noted English philosopher and also fascinated by music. Nick becomes friendly with a local boy--Guido (Jeremy Spenser). Morell discovers that Guido is very musical,and has an extrodinary talent and amazing memory when music is concerned. Neighbors, Signor and Signora Boudini, are thus made aware of Guido's potential. Signora Boudini approaches his parents and offers to provide a musical education. They are well to do and thus able to afford the finest tutors and instruments. Guido's parents live in very humble circumstances. They vdo not want to lose their son, but want him to develop his talent and in the end accept the offer. Guido is tutored by Dr. Lorenzo. Signora Bondini sees to it that Guido has no further contact with his parents, although sehe makes Guido believe that they have no interest in him. And she cuts off contact with any one else. She even holds his letters anddoes not give him the letters written by his parents. Guido's talent bloosoms and he becomes a huge success. He makes the grand tour of Europe. Signora Bondini is not only interested in Guido, but even more the acclaim gained through her association with him. She plans a trip to America and initiates a formal adoption process.

(The) President's Child - (US, 1992)

A journalist attempts to protect her 7-year-old son from a political advisor who know's the boy is a presidential candidate's illegitimate child.

Pride of the Yankees - (US, 1942)

Lou Gehrig is depicted as a boy about 13 or so at the beginning of the film by Douglas Croft. I think he wears knickers, but am not sure. Another boy is shown in knickers later on.

Prince and the Great Race - (Australia, 1983)

Mark Spain

Prince and the Pauper

There have been several films and TV prpductions made on Mark Twain's damous tale, The Prince and the Pauper. Not all of them have used Twain's title. The first known production was a 1937 film staring the Mauch twins. The most famous boy to play the role (both roles) has been Marl Lester. This page lists all of the various productions known to HBC.


Figure 1.--The Mauch twins (Billy and Bobby) are seen here in the 1937 version of the classic children's book, "The Prince and Pauper". They seem to be about 13 or so and play their parts competently. They are curly headed boys with the most enchanting smiles. The boys wear both fancy court clothing and beggers rags.

Prince and the Pauper - (1937)

The curly headed Mauch twins (Billy and Bobby) play the boys in this Mark Twain classic. They seem to be about 13 or so. They play their parts competently. The story is set around the decision of a mistreated orphan and British prince Edward Tudor to trade places. Afterwards they are mistaken for each other and throw the kingdom into turmoil. Both boys learn valuable lessons from each other's lives. The pauper Tom, and the King after they trade clothes, appear in rags with bare legs. In court clothes the boys wear tights, including white tights that the newly corinated King wears at the end of the movie. The costming seems reasonably accurate for time period, but HBC does not have a lot of information on these early periods. See "Crossed Swords" for a Mark Lester remake of the story.

Prince and the Pauper - (US, 1962)

Donald Huston, Laurence Naismith, and Sean and Guy Scully.

Prince of Central Park -


Prince of Tides - (US, 1992)

Well received film dealing with the relationship between a female analyst and her patient. There are many flashbacks to his boyhood with his brother and sister. His father was very abusive. One scene pictures their father complaining about dinner. The younger son says that he likes the dinner. His father starts yelling at him and he starts to cry which makes him father start teasing him for being a sissy. He tells his sister to go get one of her dresses for him. His mother takes him into the kitchen with his sister to fix something else for her husband's dinner. "That right," says his father, "go in there with the other girls." The other boy asks, "Why do you have to be so mean." Meanwhile the mother prepares another meal for him--out of dog food.

(The) Princess Bride - (US, 1987)

A fractured fairy tale that was well reviewed. As far as I know, however, only one boy is involved. The story is set around a boy (Fred Savage), who is 11/12 and bedridden with the flu. In this modern electronic toy era, he is less than thrilled when his grandfather brings him one of those boooooring fairy tale book--The Princess Bride. The boy groans, "Its not about kissy stuff, is it?" To his surprise, however, he becomes fascinated by the story.

Princess in Love - (UK, 1996)

Rather awful production about Princess Diana. The princes were pictured, but usually in uninteresting outfits. At the very end they were shown in their pre-prep school uniform. It was the right color (grey blazer with red piping) and shorts, but the way it was shot you could barely tell. The boy playing Prince William was about 11 or 12, way to old for the pre-prep uniform.

Prison for Children - (US, 1987)

The treatment of youthful offenders prompts the superintendent of a correctional facility for teenagers to seek reforms in the juvenile justice system.

Private Century - (Czechoslovaklia, 2009)

"Private Century" directed by Jan Sikl was released on DVD in 2009. It is a documentary seies of eight episodes, consisting of home-movie footage from 1920s through the 1960s. This gives us a "living history" of a very troubled period during which Czechoslovakia endured the two world wars and then occupation by the Nazis and finally the long Communist nightmare under Soviet domination. Under the Communists there were periods of relative easiness and hardship.  Each of the eight episodes follows the private events of one extended family through the years, and in doing so, chronicles the country history in personal terms during a large swatch of the 20th century. The film offers a rare chance to experience history through the stresses, tragedies, and comic elements of individual families and the varied but intimate lives of individuals. The result is moving and compelling. The very flexible chronology of the eight distinct episodes moves generally from the interim between the two World Wars through the Nazi and Communist take-overs afterwards. Ther families are relatively well off as most families during the period covered did not take home movies.

(A) Private Function - (US, 1984)

A Yorkshire podiatrist and his social-climbing wife abduct a black-market pig being fattened to celebrate a royal wedding. A rather large, cloddish farm boy wears short pants and knee socks.

Private Lessons - (US, 1980)

Young boy's introduction to manhood by the housekeeper and ensuing attempt by family chauffeur to blackmail him.

Private School - (US,1983)

Terrible movie. The children are all teenagers. The girl's uniforms was short skirts and white knee socks.


Figure 2.--Tim Hovey plays the part of the youngest boy at a military school who can't seem to please the commandant in "The Private War of Major Benson".

(The) Private War of Major Benson - (US, 1955)

A tough Army officer played by Charlton Heston is softened by a female doctor after he is transferred to a military boarding school. A bit of a change of pace for Heston. Not a particularly notable film, but a look at a military school for younger boys from about 7 to 14 or so. The boys wear army style uniforms. The cadet commander is Sal Mineo, who looks about 14 or so. There is also Disney fixture Tim Cosidine. The most important boy role is play by Tim Hovey who looks to be about 7 or 8, but was 9 or 10. He also played in another boarding school film (Toy Tigers) where he and the other boys did wear short pants school uniforms.

(A) Prize of Gold - (US, 1955)

Set in occupied Berlin after World War II. Some children, including boys in shorts and sandals, are briefly seen playing near a canal. An Air Force Air Patrol (MP) chases his stolen jeep to find the thief is a boy in short lederhosen. The boy is supposedly 12, but looks more like 13 or so. He is going to a school set up in bombed-out buildings. Several more boys in the school, many of which wear shorts and knee socks. The jeep thief is the only boy with a substantial part. He appears again at the end of the film in other shortsm again quite short.

(The) Prizefighter - (US, 1979)

Comedy about the boxing business in the 1930s. I haven't seen it, but I believe some boys are featured

Problem Child - (US, 1990)

When a couple adopts a little 8-year old waif (Michael Oliver) from the orphanage, they find out that he is the original orphan from Hell. The nuns were particularly delighted to see him go. I thought some of the scenes at the orphanage were nice. He is a bad seed, or is he? The kids in the audience seemed to particularly enjoy this one, but it received uniformly bad reviews.

Problem Child 2 - (US, 1991)

The pint size pest finds an equally mischievous playmate.

Professional Soldier - (US, 1936)

Freddie Bartholomew. Absolutely ridiculous movie. But Freddy is perfect in it as King Peter of Yugoslavia. He appears in a short pants suit during about half the movie.

Professor Potter and the Magic Potion -


Professor Wigstaffs Time Machine -


(A) Promise to Keep - (US, 1990)

A happily married couple fights an uphill battle after a double tragedy leaves four orphaned nephews on their doorsteps. One boy is included, but he has a minor role. Set around a beach house where the boys often wear shorts--albeit baggy ones.

Prosperity - (US, 1932)

"Prosperity" was a Marie Dressler film. She won the Accademy Award in 1931 and came very close agin in 1932 with "Emma". "Prosperity" is a lesser-known film, but on a very timely topic--banks. American banks were moving toward a crisis in 1932 during the Depression and people's funds were not safe. There was no FDIC and the banks were poorly regulated. The film is about the Warren Babk--a family owned bank. Narie plays Maggie Warren. Her grown up son John becomes president of the prosperous family bank after Maggie retires. John marries Hellen and they have two children: Cissy (Jackie Lyn Dufton) and Buster (Jerry Tucker) and they have a happy life. The major problem ast first is bickering mother in laws. Lizzy (Helen's mother) inadvertently vauses a run on the bank. The bank has to close because John has used the bank bonds for risky investments. Maggie and John have to sell everything and move in with Lizzy, who is a constant torment. The only chance to get back to normal is to get the bonds back from the confidence men who took them.

Proud Rebel - (US, 1958)

John Chandler, a recent widower, searches for a doctor who can cure his mute son conveniently named David. The boy witnessed the death of his mother and hadn't spoken sense. David Ladd, the son of the hero Alan Ladd, plays the boy. The father is trying to earn enough money to pay for an operation to restore his mute son's speech and works on a farm where he ends up confronting ranchers. (A poor imitation of "Shane".) David is about 10 years oldand plays the part of a gentle, sensitive little fellow very competently. These gentle, senastive roles he did very well. There is even a very discrete bathing scene when the lady that takes them in baths him in a tub in the front yard. In another scene he is set upon by bullies. It is one of those movies where every thing goes wrong for our hero, but comes out right in the end. The costuming is not very accurate for the period, especially the long pants. A HBC movie revier describes it as "tedious". HBC does not fully agree, but admits it is not one of Alan Ladd's most exciting films.

Pssssst! Hammarsmith's After You - (1974)

Christian Juttner and Lance Kerwin.

Puberty Blues - (Australia)

An Australian school movie.

Public Enemy - (US, 1931)

The main character as a boy gets a beating from his father. It is interesting that so many films made in the 1930s involved boys being spanked. In our more enlightened modern era this rarely occurrs. The boy wears knickers.

Pufnstuf - (US, 1970)

A magic flute transports a young boy to a kingdom of talking animals. Disney

(The) Pumpkin Eater - (UK, 1964)

Well reviewed film about a woman's insecurity and her crumbling marriage. I found it astonishingly dull. In between all the adult histrionics are several children. Lots of school uniforms, including one shot of two brothers at about 13-14 in blazers with light colored piping. The boys are usually in longs even at 10-11. There is one scene of one of the boys in full school uniform with shorts and cap. It is winter, however, and he is wearing an overcoat. I'd say he was about 11. I couldn't the whole film, there may be more such scenes.


Figure 3.--Pünktchen does not normally wear long stockings as they are going out of style in Germany. Pünktchen does put them on when she dresses up like a poor girl and sneaks out of her home. She wears a Leibchen and garters to hold them up.

Pünktchen und Anton (Austria-Germany , 1953)

This is an Austrian-Grerman co-production film about a rich girl and a poor boy who become fast friends and get involved in stopping a crime. The film is based on a famous children's novel by Erich Kästner, one of the most popular German author of children's books. He was one of the authors whose books were burned by the NAZIs. The film tells the story from the point of view of the children. Pünktchen , the nickname for Annaliese, is the neglected daughter of a wealthy surgeon who is reduced to begging because her parents pay little or no attention to her. She becomes the close friend of Anton, who comes from a poor family and who works to support his ailing mother. The children are about 10 or 11 years old. Punktchen's family disapproves of their daughter's friendship with a boy of a lower social class until Anton helps prevent the robbery of their house and gains favor with them. A later version of the film was released in Germany with modernized settings and costumes in 1999.

(The) Pupil Gerber (Der Schuler Gerber) - (Austria/Germany, 1982)

A romantic and artistic student is victimized by his despotic maths teacher, nicknamed God Kupfer. The teacher represents the burgeoning fascism of the 1930s. Tragedy strikes on graduation day. Based on a respected Austrian novel.

(The) Purple People Eater - (US, 1988)

A 1950s pop hit inspired this story about a musically inclined extra-terrestrial who helps a young earthling named Billy (Neil Patrick Harris aka TV's Dogie Houser) save his grandfather from eviction. This has to be one of the more inane movies I have ever seen. Billy is a competent actor, but the movie is so witless that his effort is hopeless. He is about 12 or 13 and wears longs throughout the film.







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Created: January 30, 2000
Last updated: 7:11 PM 7/2/2015