I am not sure just what a spoiler is. I am not trying to write a spoiler. I am just trying to tell it straight. This turkey movie makes no sense. A young man lives in Alabama where his father owns a ship yard. World War II breaks out and his dad can't run the ship yard because he is called up by the Navel Reserve. OK Then what. There is a war on. That leaves the guys mom to run the shipyard. Wouldn't you think he would be doing everything to help her and help the war effort by helping out at the ship yard. I sure would. I worked when I was a teenager. So what does he do? Does he even try to help out? No. He goes out to New Mexico to goof off. You know John Boy was more helpful working at the saw mill at Walton's Mountain than he was in this turkey movie. Now when he gets to New Mexico he gets in fights with some Hispanics. John boy fight the Germans not the Mexicans. I can't see why anybody would think this was a good movie. Thanks. I am not trying to knock it. I am just telling it like it is. I hope this helps.

This was a great movie. I saw it when it came out. It reminded me of the time I was growing up in the small town in NM. The way we used to play and the pranks we used to pull on new kids in town. It was a great time for me growing up there until we moved to CA. The movie brings great memories. Especially when the kids in town lead the new kid to the local dump and while running at full speed runs into a dead cow. I can still see the new kid in the dead cow and the smell, it must have been awful. That's the kind of innocent pranks I remember pulling on other kids as we were growing up. If and when it is decided to make a DVD of videotape, I would like to be notified so I can purchase one.

I first saw this film while in the Air Force during Viet Nam. It had such a profound effect on my memory that years later I stayed up until 2 AM to record it from the Late Movie on TV. I still watch it often despite the horrible editing. Excellent cinematography, acting, scenery, music, and story. One of the best "coming of age " movies made. Look for the symbolic train that carries the high schoolers away from their youth and into adulthood forever. Similar to the theme of "Racing with the Moon" with Nicholas Cage and Sean Penn (also recommended). Desi Arnez Jr nearly steals every scene he is in. One of John Thomas' best roles, and whatever happened to Catherine Burns in the movies? She was great in this one! Every person I have showed this movie to have loved it and always asks the question..." Why haven't I heard of this movie before?" Proof again that Hollywood Executives don't always know what they're doing. If you can ever find this film from any friend, collection, flea market, or any source whatsoever, watch it! (Out of print and not available on VHS or DVD).

I viewed this film for the first time in a motel room at White Sands, New Mexico in 1997. I was completely bowled over. This was a stunning piece of photography (yes, filmography) and truly touching in its use of apace, fauna, and New Mexico geography. Richard Thomas and Desi Arnez,jr were wonderful. This is a real "coming of age" film. I wish to high heaven it were on video. I was, obviously, quite moved.The idea of placing characters from the WWII era in a desert,detached setting seemed uninteresting and silly to me, at first. As the film progressed, however, one realizes that World War is always somewhere in the background, a father who could hold it all together gone. What a trial for the young people of this film and we come to understand them and their anxieties.