Spain title: La aventura más grande de mi vida Greek title: Η μεγαλύτερη περιπέτεια της ζωής μου Russian title: Самое большое приключение моей жизни Original title: The Greatest Adventure of My Life
Alternative titles: American Drummer Boy / The Union Drum / Американский барабанщик
War drama – USA Production year: 2001 Movie length: 107 minutes
Director: Dorian Walker Writer: Dorian Walker Cinematograph: Steve Anderson Music: Eric Colvin
Movie description:
The spring of 1861 is a special time for young Johnny Boone as he watches his friends march off to America’s most dramatic war. After putting in the crops on his family farm, this young Huck Finn runs away to try and catch up with his hometown unit, The 11th Kentucky Infantry. His journey takes him aboard riverboats and into Confederate camps where he falls under the spell of a Confederate Colonels young daughter, a pint-sized Scarlett OHara. Finally young Johnny finds his way to the 11th where he’s called to meet the demands of his unit and his nation. Based upon the true story of one of America’s youngest Medal of Honor winners, this Family film captures the imagination of young and old alike.
The American Civil War and its events and heroes have inspired thousands of films and books. The coming of age genre also has its contributions to the theme – one of them being the 2001 production »American Drummer Boy« (also known as »The Greatest Adventure of My Life«). Narrated in first person by the young Johnny Boone (good acting performance by Cody Newton) – the film tells the story of a young boy whose sense of honor and duty lead him to sneak out his house one day and embark on a journey to join the 11th Kentucky Infantry. From that moment on, he gets himself in and out of trouble, finding himself with the enemy forces instead (only to realize that they are just people with beliefs and honor to protect and that their reasons to enlist are not much different than his own).