War of the Buttons (1994)

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Rival groups of boys from two neighboring Irish villages engage in a running battle in this remake of the 1962 French movie of the same name, based on a novel by Louis Pergaud. The boys from Ballydowse, who dress as they please, exchange insults with boys from nearby Carricksdowse -- who wear school… More Rival groups of boys from two neighboring Irish villages engage in a running battle in this remake of the 1962 French movie of the same name, based on a novel by Louis Pergaud. The boys from Ballydowse, who dress as they please, exchange insults with boys from nearby Carricksdowse -- who wear school uniforms. One day, the Bally gang cuts the buttons off the clothes of a bully in the Carricks gang. The Carricks retaliate by swiping the buttons from the clothes of the leader of the Bally boys, Fergus (Gregg Fitzgerald). The Ballys deface the Carricksdowse church, though both groups are Catholics. They rout the Carricks by charging at them naked. Marie (Eveanna Ryan), who heads the Ballys' girls auxiliary, tries to calm down the boys by raining new buttons on them to replace those lost in warfare. When Fergus' abusive stepfather (Jim Bartley) finds out about the war, he beats Fergus and sends him away. Fergus goes to the cliffs along the valley between the two villages, chased by the Carricks' leader, Geronimo (John Coffey). Geronimo, who has come to help, slips, and Fergus rescues him from a fall. In the end, Fergus, riding a horse, leads his troops, dressed in motley medieval suits, into a final battle. The allegorical anti-war film is primarily aimed at children. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: John Roberts, Margy Kinmonth
Written By: Louis Pergaud, Colin Welland
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Sep 10, 1996
Studio: Warner Home Video

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Very enjoyable, yet hard to find movie. I rented this many years ago, just on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised.
Leo L

This is a movie from my childhood. A personal favorite. LOVE IT!

Cast

            Liam Cunningham as Schoolmaster

            Gregg Fitzgerald as Fergus

            Colm Meaney as Geronimo's Dad

            John S. Coffey as Geronimo

            Eveanna Ryan as Marie

            Paul Batt as Gorilla

            Thomas Kavanagh as Riley

            Dervla Kirwan as Adult Marie

            Brendan McNamara as Tim

            Gerard Kearney as Big Con

            Kevin O'Malley as Fishy

            Anthony Cunningham as Little Con

            John Cleere as Peter

            Stuart Dannell-Foran
            
            Karl Byrne as Mickey Moon

            Barry Walsh as Willie

            Derek O'Leary as Brendan

            Niall Collins as Chick

            Maureen Bennett as Master's Wife

            Brendan Cauldwell as Carrickdowse Priest

            Donncha Crowley as Police Sergeant

            Alan Devlin as Mr Riley

            Barbre Dowling as Geronimo's Mum

            Martin Dunne as Willie's Dad

            Frank Grimes as Christian Brother

            Frank Kelly as Gorilla's Dad

            Pat Laffan as Mr Connor

            Helen Montague as Tich's Mum

            Declan Mulholland as Priest

            Johnny Murphy as Jonjo

            Ger Ryan as Fergus' Mum

            Jack Lynch as Mr Riley's Friend

            Maurice O'Donoghue as Police Sergeant

            Frank O'Sullivan as Fisherman

            John Olohan as Fat Pat's Dad

            Daragh Naughton
            
            Darragh Naughton
            
            Kevin O'Malley (II)
            
            Brenda McNamara
            
            Gerald Kearney
            
            John Murphy
            
            John Coffey
            
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