War of the Buttons

War of the ButtonsNo stones in slingshots. No skirmishes too late in the day. They're rules of war for the youngsters of two neighboring Irish villages. And here's another rule: if you spit shake on something, you better follow through. Kids will be kids. But sometimes they, in their own fanciful ways, will be adults. "What's unique and marvelous here," Oscar winning* Chariots of Fire screenwriter Colin Welland says, "is that it's not an adult's view of childhood at

She's a sleuth to reckon with

James Curtayne (Spencer Tracy) was once a brilliant defense attorney

two generations of lovers finally united after the dark days of the first World War - one in life

John Alexander hires on for the anonymity and toil of an oil field roughneck

In common with these

and at a handful of kooks crazy enough to care

leading to a showdown that ignites the screen in a blaze of fury

which becomes a desperate flight for survival as he changes from hunter to hunted

outrageous romp

Dick Powell (in his last film role before devoting himself to a hugely successful TV career) and Debbie Reynolds play the (maybe) mismatched couple in a big-hearted romantic comedy from animator-turned-director Frank Tashlin that makes merry use of its Yuletide setting

George Kennedy as Patton

and a quaff makes him crazy