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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. No Greater Glory remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old, dusty dramas that hit you over the head with a message, maybe. If you are looking for something lighthearted, stay away. This is for people who want to see child actors in 1930s suits trying to be generals.
The whole thing is basically about a group of boys fighting for control of a lumber yard. It sounds small, but they treat it like the invasion of Normandy. It’s a bit much.
George P. Breakston plays Nemecsek, the frail kid who just wants to be part of the group. He’s the heart of the movie, I guess, but he spends so much time looking sad and dusty that it gets a little exhausting.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic, performative energy you see in The Sawdust Ring, where everyone is trying so hard to sell the drama. Sometimes the movie feels like it's trying to be a grand epic, but it's really just a bunch of boys in a muddy field.
The ending is… well, it’s a lot. You’ll know if you’re onboard or if you’ve already checked out by the halfway point. I think I preferred the scenes where they were just arguing over rules. Those felt like real kids. The rest felt like a sermon.
It’s not a bad film, really. It’s just very, very heavy for something about a pile of wood. 🪵