Too Young the Hero (1988 TV Movie) User Reviews (14)

Imagine what it was like to be Calvin Graham...

[rooster_davis · 8/10 · 12 February 2020]

Calvin wanted to join the military service in part because he wanted to serve his country like the older boys (or young men) and in part because he had no real place to live or means of support. Considering how hard boot camp can be on an "of age" enlistee or draftee, imagine then what it must have been like for a 12-year-old boy. Yet he persevered, he endured, he survived, perhaps in part because his family circumstances had really not made it possible for him to be a child for very long. He had been picking cotton in the fields when he was five; he was much more a grownup than what we think of a 12 year old being now.

I thought Rick Schroder did a really good job of playing the role of Calvin. Actually it was a kind of turnabout - while Calvin was 12 and had to pass himself off as 17, Schroder was 17 and had to pass for 12.

Some have pointed out 'how could the military not have known he was only 12?'. At least one other reviewer pointed out that his teeth would have been a giveaway, well in fact the movie covered that. When Calvin was getting his dental exam the dentist immediately caught that he was only about 12. "You don't even have your 12-year molars yet, you've still got baby teeth!" He handed Calvin his folder and told him to take it to a sergeant to be sent home; instead, when the dentist turned away for a moment, Calvin replaced his folder on the stack and said nothing to anyone. He was past that problem neatly.

There's more to the story than can or should be shared here. I can only say I found it very interesting and I think this most unusual true story bears watching, and Calvin bears our remembering.

Too young the Hero

[mamie16354 · 8/10 · 14 April 2005]

I think this movie is a very good movie. My brother and I watched this when we were younger and thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie. We got to talking about it a while back and decided to find the name of the movie as we could not remember. We were telling his wife about it and saying how we would like to see the movie again and get a copy. We may have been young, but we still think the movie is very good. It is about a young boy that had a dysfunctional family and joined the navy during World War II at the age of twelve. The fact that he was so young was not revealed until much later after he had been awarded for his bravery. We enjoyed the movies as it was about a young boy not much older than ourselves. The whole family enjoyed it. It is a family oriented movie and I recommend you watch Too young the hero.

Not Your Average War Movie...

[bheadher · 7/10 · 18 June 2017]

...since it was never meant to be a war movie. Instead, it is something of a biography...while dramatized to the hilt, it is none the less the true story of Calvin Graham, acknowledged to be the youngest veteran of the WW2 Navy. It includes some stark WW2 film clips of action, and overall is fairly well done, telling young Graham's subterfuge in enlisting, then fighting on the USS South Dakota, while bouncing back to his imprisonment after being found out. The movie does a good job of getting the point across that the Navy really didn't know what to do with him...

Not an EMMY level movie, but still worth watching...

Remember the treatment this boy received while incarcerated.

[UPSETTER-2 · 14 January 2002]

There are several troubling components of this movie other than the criticism that Shroder was not 12 years old when playing the role. This lad enlisted fraudently as did many other under-aged enlistees in World War 2. Some because of patriotism but in the case of this boy it was because of economic deprivation. He performed his war duties well enough to be awarded citations for bravery. Due to some bureaucratic foul-up he was jailed when returning from leave for desertion. The sad part of this story is that he was raped while in the brig and even the chaplain admitted he was not authorized to write to family members indicating where he was. A fellow prisoner upon release did courageously call the victim's sister and she contacted a local paper to secure his release. But the final absurdity is seen when an officer tells the released victim to not divulge what happened to him. The navy did not want its dirty wash shown to the world.

Amazing Chapter In a Less-told Story of Underage Service Members

[MovieBuffMarine · 9/10 · 12 December 2017]

Decades before advanced record keeping was put into place and computers can pull up a background of a person in seconds, it is said that thousands of underage boys lied about their ages to join the U.S. Military. Their reasons for joining varied; many served with honor.

Twelve year old Calvin Leon Graham, "Too Young the Hero" was one of those thousands.

Until CBS aired this made-for-TV movie, I had never heard of Calvin Graham. While parts and names were fictionalized for "dramatic clarity" (as the teleplay indicated at the beginning), I thought this conveyed the story of Graham well: his life as part of a poor family in Texas; his not-so-good relationship with his step dad; his plot to get into the Navy; his subsequent Navy service and maturing as he faces death and destruction when his ship, the USS South Dakota goes into combat; his discovery of his true age by the Navy; and his wrongful brig time made for an interesting account.

Again, there were parts and names fictionalized, but if this movie wanted to make you learn more about Calvin Graham, then it did its job. In my opinion, not too many people have heard of this Sailor until the broadcast of this 1988 tele-movie to include President Reagan who viewed it at the time. After he viewed this, he signed legislation that granted Graham full disability benefits (which he was denied after leaving the Navy).

Sure, it was made-for-TV and budgeted as such. North Carolina (where most of this was shot) stood in for many places in this tele-feature: Houston, TX (Calvin's Home at 12); Pearl Harbor, HI; New Caledonia; New York City; and rounding off the state's participation in this movie, the museum battleship, USS North Carolina stood in for the long since dismantled USS South Dakota. Virginia's National Guard Base, Camp Pendleton stood in for the rest: Corpus Christi, TX (Brig); San Diego, CA (Boot Camp). Of course, when Ricky Schroder shot this, he was seventeen years old. Did people cringe at these "inaccuracies?" Of course! I know I did. But it did not detract from the story.

It didn't have the budget of another TV WWII epic, "The Winds of War" (which shot at various places around the country and world); and while there have been many amazing (pre-teen) child actors in Hollywood, I doubt that 1) there were any that looked like they can pass for 17; and 2) they would have been able to depict the part of Graham maturing quickly convincingly. There are always "nits" in any movie, but all you can do is hope they don't keep you from taking in the story.

Again, many underage young men served in the military. Many served with honor. Underage military service is a story that is rarely told and CBS did it real well for Calvin Graham. I don't know if we should put these once too-young-to-be-in-the-service members on a pedestal like we seem to for the Pattons, MacArthurs and Nimitz' of the time, but I do know we need to honor them as they became men while their peers back home were doing typical activities of pre-teen and 'teen boys.

Their story is rarely told, let alone Calvin Graham's. When you look past the nit-picks and obvious older age of Ricky Schroder playing a twelve year old, this tele-movie will give you an appreciation of who Calvin Graham was and what he endured. It is unlikely there will be another movie made about Calvin Graham.

If you read up on him (after watching this movie), you will find he was the youngest service member to fight in World War II. Thank you CBS for pointing me to research that fact!

Dramatic and Heartfelt

[mitsubishizero · 10/10 · 28 March 2020]

I really thought this was a good war and autobiographical film. I found the story of Calvin Graham to be interesting and tragic. While the movie may've taken a few liberties in the source material I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have to admit there were times where I got angry over the injustice Calvin and is brother had to go through. Their homelife is less than ideal and most of the people they have to deal with are terrible and at the very least apathetic. Calvin Graham (Rick Schroeder) dreams of serving his country and is too anxious to wait until he reaches the enlistment age. Eager to fight he lies about his age and enlist. After dealing with boot camp, bullies, and a rough sea life, he proves himself during an attack and is awarded for his bravery until his true age is discovered where he gets sent to the brig.

Most of the story's told through flashbacks during his time in the brig. From his life prior to enlisting as a sailor. Probably one of the most infuriating scenes is when 2 drunk sailors try to rape him and he ends up lying about his injury to the nurse afterwards in embarressment. I felt like he should've told the truth but I digress. For all of his hardships he does befriend another sailor who looks out for him. The acting and dialouge were great. When a line's spoken it's done with conviction sometimes poigantly. The way the characters act is mostly understandable though most of the actions of the adults will make you angry and even sad at the same time.

I won't give away the ending but it's bittersweet to say the least. "Too Young the Hero" is a great war drama. It's tragic and bitter at times yet still hopeful. In a world that can be very mean-spirited (and understandably so) during a crisis, there's still hope and this movie shows it. If you like war movies and underdog stories than I highly recommend this. What also makes this great is Rick Schroder as Calvin Graham. He really balances the adventurous side of being a teen while also knowing when to be sad or angry at the injustice he has to constantly face. So yeah, check this movie out.

Unfocused

[rmax304823 · 5/10 · 27 October 2002]

Okay, Shroder doesn't look twelve, but pretty close. That isn't the problem. The film has a kind of shoddy look to it, mainly due to the photography and wardrobe. Ricky Shroder is a nice guy but not the most convincing of actors. The scenes on the battleship were shot aboard the North Carolina, a relic moored on the Cape Fear River.

Some of the performances are quite good, particularly my own as the hobo snoring on the stairs who must be stepped over by Shroder and his friend. I thought my imitation of waking up was superb. As with too many true stories though, this one doesn't follow a tight enough narrative line. It's not linear, not "fictional" enough. There are three main narrative threads -- Calvin's dysfunctional family life, his unlawful enlistment in the Navy, and his abuse in the brig -- and they don't always mesh together as well as they might.

In real life, Calvin's service to his country was acknowledged finally, long after the events themselves took place. But, as with all autobiographical material, the story as we see it depends largely on his description of what happened. Was he really raped in the brig? Jailhouse rape was a shocker thirty years ago when situational homosexuality in prison was first acknowledged, but by now we've come to expect scenes like that. A shipmate of mine once spent some time in the Marine Brig. Unless brigs have changed a great deal, inmates didn't get raped in the 1940s. It's not like Sing Sing! They can very easily get beaten up and subject to other verbal and physical abuse, but not raped.

Be that as it may, this script could have used a bit of tightening. It rambles around, rather slowly at times, and doesn't exactly enthrall the viewer, except for the performers playing the hobos. One of them is simply sublime.

too young the hero

[grandpabro · 10/10 · 21 September 2005]

i am proud to have walked in Calvin Grahams footsteps. I belong to the same veterans group he did. . I am Missouri state vice commander. Calvin has more than two thousand known comrades Veterans of underage military service. I am Missour state vice commander.

Calvin has more than two thousand known comrades with many not found yet.

We have reunions each year across America and a mini-reunion at Branson.Missouri during veterans day week November 6th- 12,2005.

Ronald W. Browne, Missouri Vice Commander

we are always looking for all Americans who enlisted into the military underage.

we have our own web site. or call 1-888-653-8867

tooting my own horn

[tomdoyle1962 · 5/10 · 25 April 2005]

I was an uncredited extra in this film and got about 8 seconds of on-camera time out of it. We were filming in the crew quarters of the USS North Carolina. While the crew slept, an alarm went off. After an officer told Schroeder "We're going to war", the crew filed out behind him. I planned to toss and turn in the background before the lights came up (to give myself more of a chance of being seen) and lo and behold, that made it in the film in addition to me filing out of the quarters. I've seen this movie on Lifetime a few times in the past few years, and I get a kick out of that scene every time it comes on. I remember Schroeder being aloof towards the extras during shooting, but then I don't think I expected him to sit down with us and have lunch. He was the central character of the film, after all. In terms of the overall film, I found the story interesting. It's odd that we go to such lengths to protect children from all kinds of dangers now. Some group would have some naval officer arrested for felony child abuse today for daring to let a 12 year old into a battle zone. All in all, it was a good "made for TV" movie of its time.

The amazing true story of a 12-yr-old Navy seaman in WW2.

[TxMike · 20 July 2013]

When viewing this movie it is important to remember that the world was a lot different in 1942, and even more different when you consider that we were at war. Many young men under the age of 17 were falsifying their age to enlist in one of the military branches, some to get out and help the fight, others because even the military was better than being poor and/or homeless.

The fine young actor Ricky Schroder, about 16 or 17 during filming, plays Calvin Graham who at age 12, living in Houston, falsified a document to say he was 17. He went to war on the USS South Dakota, the lead of her battleship class. He saw action, was wounded, and received the bronze star and the purple heart.

Eventually it was discovered that he was only 12 and, no matter how fine a sailor he was, there was no government regulation that would let him remain in the Navy.

The movie starts with him reporting to a Naval Station with sealed papers, only to find out that he was considered to be a deserter and was thrown in the brig. Then most of the story is shown as flashbacks. When he had been sent home from New York when the ship was in for repairs, he was told to report to his local recruiter in Houston, where his case would be handled. He thought he would get a new assignment but instead they wrote the desertion papers. He was finally released when his sister found out where he was and she went to the newspapers with the story.

That is where the movie ends, but his tale of woes continued for a long time, his medals were taken away, he was discharged dishonorably, and in later years presidents Carter and Reagan restored some of what he earned.

Typical Military mistreatment.

[tomfarrell2004 · 8/10 · 23 May 2022]

Great depiction of a military screw up. I was in the Marine Corps, and although it was the Vietnam era, the MP's are well depicted in this movie. Arrogant dummies, without much decency. Calvin was a hero, with great intentions, and ends up spending time in the Marine Corps Brig.

A good designed film for its age

[nicoal · 8/10 · 7 July 2003]

When you see Rick in the film it's easy to understand that it is impossible to be a 12 years old boy. I think he is around 20 in the film but the director may used this actor because he though that this was the only that he could find and fit for the role. Of course some things in the movie never happened but they were created so the film could be success. I hoped that films like that would be produced even today. As an overview of the film its shows the World War II at the side of U.S. Navy through the eyes of a young boy.

The U.S. Navy couldn't tell they had a 12 yr old kid on their hands?

[yenlo · 31 October 2003]

The makers of this made for TV film of course had a tough call when it came to casting the part of the principal character Calvin Graham. They had to find a professional actor who could pass for a 12 yr old who just happened to look a little older (at least 17). They chose Rick Schroder who was 18 at the time this film was made which in my opinion is pretty close. The film is certainly not of Oscar caliber as most made for TV films are but it isn't all that bad. If it does nothing else it at least tells yet another chapter of the U.S. in WWII. This time the story of underage boys who managed to get in the service. It is hard however to believe that the U.S. Navy could not detect the fact that this was just a 12 yr old kid. In most of the other cases it involved 15 and 16 yr olds passing for 17. It shows in the film how he got past his induction physical but once in basic training at additional physicals and dental exams he would have been detected by qualified medical and dental personnel and sent home. So as a Naval veteran myself it left me with the feeling that the Navy knew they had a way underage boy on their hands and decided to look the other way on it until the heat came down on them as they always seem to do. I was not surprised in the least however at how the Navy handled the affair once it was unmasked. Aside from the true tale of this the film is not bad and has the always enjoyable human interest side to it to help it along.

A campy war movie....but I liked it.

[Sonic-6 · 15 October 1998]

Well, Too Young the Hero is a very campy war movie made for TV. My Grandfather was on the same Battleship that the story takes place during the second world war. I used to watch the movie constantly when I was younger, until I realized that it really isn't very good. The acting is not the best I've seen, and the entire story is generally not pulled off well.