''Reach for Glory'' is a 1962 British film adaptation of John Rae's 1961 novel, ''

The Custard Boys ''The Custard Boys'' is a 1960 British novel by John Rae, focusing on the lives of children in a small village in World War II Norfolk dealing with an influx of war refugees. It is sometimes compared to ''Lord of the Flies'', and was adapted ...

'', directed by

Philip Leacock Philip David Charles Leacock (8 October 1917 – 14 July 1990) was an English television and film director and producer. His brother was documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock. Career Born in London, England, Leacock spent his childhood in the C ...

. It received a United Nations Award.

Plot

A group of boys, evacuated during World War II from London to a coastal town, form a gang and play war games. Too young to fight in the war and afraid it will be over by the time they come of age, the group members, who are also in the school's

Army Cadet Force The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence and the British Army. Along with the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps, the ACF mak ...

, initiate a battle with the local teenagers. Curlew, a local youth, invites an Austrian Jewish refugee with whom he has formed a close relationship to take part in the shenanigans. At first the Jewish boy, Stein, is scorned because of his "Germanic" heritage but is later allowed to join. When Stein runs off during a fight, the youths decide to give him a fake court-martial and execution, but real bullets are used by a freak mistake and Stein is killed.

Cast

Harry Andrews Harry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was an English actor known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in '' The Hill'' (1965) alongside Sean ...

- Capt. Curlew *

Kay Walsh Kathleen "Kay" Walsh (15 November 1911 – 16 April 2005) was an English actress, dancer, and screenwriter. Her film career prospered after she met her future husband film director David Lean, with whom she worked on prestige productions such a ...

- Mrs. Curlew *

Michael Anderson Jr Michael Joseph Anderson Jr. (born 6 August 1943) is an actor whose 40-year career includes roles in '' The Sundowners'', ''In Search of the Castaways'', ''The Sons of Katie Elder'', and ''Logan's Run''. During the 1966 television season he starr ...

- Lewis Craig * Oliver Grimm - Mark Stein * Martin Tomlinson - John Curlew * Freddie Eldrett - Willy Aldrich * James Luck - Michael Freen * John Coker - Peter Joy *

Michael Trubshawe Michael Trubshawe (7 December 1905 – 21 March 1985) was a British actor and former officer in the Highland Light Infantry Regiment of the British Army. Trubshawe was very close friends with fellow British actor David Niven, serving with hi ...

- Maj. Burton *

Arthur Hewlett Arthur Hewlett (12 March 1907 in Southampton, Hampshire – 25 February 1997 in London) was a British actor. Hewlett made his stage debut in 1930 at Plymouth Rep, and his theatre work included the original British production of Bernard Shaw ...

- Vicar * Cameron Hall - Headmaster *

Allan Jeayes Allan John Jeayes (19 January 1885 – 20 September 1963) was an English stage and film actor. Jeayes was born in London Borough of Barnet, Barnet, Hertfordshire, the son of Isaac Herbert Jeayes, archivist and Assistant Keeper of Manuscript ...

- Crabtree *

Richard Vernon Richard Evelyn Vernon (7 March 1925 – 4 December 1997) was a British actor. He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles. Prematurely balding and greying, Vernon settled into playi ...

- Dr. Aldrich *

Russell Waters Russell Waters (born 10 June 1908, Glasgow, Lanarkshire – died 19 August 1982, Richmond, Surrey) was a Scottish film actor. Waters was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. He began acting with the ...

- Mr. Freeman *

Patricia Hayes Patricia Lawlor Hayes (22 December 1909 – 19 September 1998) was an English character actress. Early life Patricia Hayes OBE was born in Streatham,Dennis Barker, "Hayes, Patricia Lawlor (1909–1998)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biogra ...

- Mrs. Freeman *

George Pravda George Pravda (19 June 19161 May 1985) was a Czechoslovak theatre, film and television actor. Early life He began his career in Czechoslovakia, where he was credited as Jiří Pravda, and then emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1956. Career H ...

- Mr. Stein * John Rae - Lance Freeman * Alexis Kanner - Steven * Peter Furnell - Arthur Chettle * John Pike - Felix *

Melvin Baker Melvin Clyde Baker (born August 12, 1950) is a former American football wide receiver who played three seasons in the National Football League with the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Houston Oil ...

- Chettle's Lieutenant

Crew

;Director *

;Producers * Jud Kinberg * John Kohn ;Music by * Bob Russell ;Cinematography * Robert Huke ;Film editing * Frederick Wilson ;Art direction * John Blezard ;Production Management * Timothy Burrill (unit manager) * Fred Gunn (production manager) ;Assistant Director * David Tomblin ;Sound Department * Maurice Askew (sound recordist) * Cyril Collick (sound recordist) * Don Sharpe (dubbing editor) ;Camera operator * Ronnie Maasz ;Music Department *

Raymond Premru Raymond Eugene Premru (June 6, 1934 – May 8, 1998) was an American trombonist, composer, and teacher who spent most of his career in London, England. Life and career The son of a Methodist minister, Premru was born in Elmira, New York and gre ...

(conductor) * Bob Russell (lyricist: special lyrics) ;Misc * Maurice Binder (title designer) * Eileen Head (continuity)

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

br>Reach for Glory (1962) Full Cast & Crew
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References

External links

* 1962 films 1962 drama films Films based on British novels British black-and-white films Films directed by Philip Leacock Columbia Pictures films British drama films Films set on the home front during World War II 1960s English-language films 1960s British films {{1960s-UK-film-stub