Richard Lyon Movies

In this British comedy, based on a popular radio series, the Lyons family goes on a Parisian holiday. The father attempts to buy tickets through a beautiful, enigmatic woman. When the children see them talking, they immediately assume the worst. When they see her again in Paris, merry mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Finding a curiously silent young runaway boy (Dean Stockwell) whose head has been completely shaved, small town police call in a psychologist (Robert Ryan) and discover that he is a war orphan named Peter Frye. Moving in with an understanding retired actor named Gramps (Pat O'Brien), Peter starts going to school and generally begins living the life of a normal boy until his class gets involved with trying to help war orphans in Europe and Asia. Peter soon realizes that -- like the children on the posters, whose images haunt him -- he, too, is a war orphan. The realization about his parents and the work helping the orphans makes Peter turn very serious, and he is further troubled when he overhears the adults around him talking about the world preparing for another war. Peter awakens the next day and his hair has turned green, prompting him to run away after being taunted by the townspeople and his peers. Suddenly, appearing before him in a lonely part of the woods are the orphaned children whose pictures he saw on the posters. They tell him that he is a war orphan, but that with his green hair he can make a difference and must tell people that war is dangerous for children. He leaves determined to deliver his message to any and all. Upon his return, the townspeople chase Peter, and even Gramps tries to encourage him to consider shaving his hair so that it might grow back normally. He agrees to get his head shaved, and the town barber does the job -- that night, however, Peter runs away. Later reunited with Gramps, Peter learns that there are adults out there who accept what he has to say and want him to go on saying it. He's sure that his hair will grow back in green again, and he will continue to carry his message. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

While appearing in the stage production Harvey, comedian Joe E. Brown was persuaded by director Harold Schuster to accept the atypically serious starring role in The Tender Years. Though hardly his first dramatic film appearance, it was undoubtedly Brown's best. The star is cast as kindly turn-of-the-century rural minister Will Norris, who takes it upon himself to rid his community of the brutal sport of dog-fighting. Discovering that the dog to which his own son Ted (Richard Lyon) has become attached is being used for fighting purposes, Reverend Norris steals the animal, knowing full well that he'll stand trial for his "crime." Moved by the reverend's dedication and sincerity, the authorities decide to call off his trial -- and, eventually, to illegalize all dog-fighting activities. Though basically a "family" film, The Tender Years contains some rather tense scenes with the battling dogs, so it might be best to exercise of bit of parental discretion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Green Years was an important rung in the career of child actor Dean Stockwell. He stars as a morose young Irish lad, raised by ultra-strict Scottish relatives of his late mother. He is drawn out of his shell by roguish great-grandfather Charles Coburn. In time, Stockwell grows up to be Tom Drake, and Coburn is still around to keep things lively. Adapted from a best-selling novel by A.J. Cronin, The Green Years is entertaining on several unexpected levels, from the thick Scots and Irish brogues of the largely American cast, to the odd pairing of husband and wife actors Hume Cronyn (age 35) and Jessica Tandy (age 37), here playing father and daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi