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While appearing in the stage production Harvey, comedian Joe E. Brown was persuaded by director Harold Schuster to accept the atypically serious starring role in The Tender Years. Though hardly his first dramatic film appearance, it was undoubtedly Brown's best. The star is cast as kindly turn-of-the-century rural minister Will Norris, who takes it upon himself to rid his community of the brutal sport of dog-fighting. Discovering that the dog to which his own son Ted (Richard Lyon) has become attached is being used for fighting purposes, Reverend Norris steals the animal, knowing full well that he'll stand trial for his "crime." Moved by the reverend's dedication and sincerity, the authorities decide to call off his trial -- and, eventually, to illegalize all dog-fighting activities. Though basically a "family" film, The Tender Years contains some rather tense scenes with the battling dogs, so it might be best to exercise of bit of parental discretion.