The Boy with Green Hair

"Please don't tell why his hair turned green!"

1948 1h 22m EN

😐

6.2

MID

🍅

80%

FRESH

⭐

6.7

IMDB

★6.2TMDB · 69🍅80%Rotten Tomatoes★6.7IMDB · 3,321

DramaComedyFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Peter, an orphaned boy, is adopted by Gramp Frye after his parents are killed in Europe while doing war relief work. The boy feels safe with his new caretaker, but when he is taunted for being an orphan, he gets demoralized. The next day Peter wakes up with green hair. Embarrassed and further ridiculed, Peter seeks solace in a nearby forest. To his surprise, he finds other orphans in the woods, who encourage him to spread news of the injustices of war.

“Please don't tell why his hair turned green!”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Cast

Pat O'Brien
Gramp Fry
Robert Ryan
Dr. Evans
Barbara Hale
Miss Brand
Dean Stockwell
Peter
Richard Lyon
Michael
Walter Catlett
The King
Samuel S. Hinds
Dr. R.T. Knudson
Regis Toomey
Mr. Davis

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Joseph Losey
Writers: Ben Barzman, Alfred Lewis Levitt, Betzi Beaton
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

82 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

78 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Joseph Losey, shot by George Barnes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Leigh Harline. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Frank Doyle shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Pat O'Brien and Robert Ryan and Barbara Hale carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Please don't tell why his hair turned green!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0040185 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Joseph Losey directs. George Barnes behind the camera. Leigh Harline scores. Frank Doyle cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

182 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
278 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Joseph Losey, shot by George Barnes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Leigh Harline. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Frank Doyle shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Pat O'Brien and Robert Ryan and Barbara Hale carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Please don't tell why his hair turned green!".
8IMDB entry: tt0040185 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 69 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.