After spending time in a London orphanage, Harry and Davy arrive in 1903 Nova Scotia on a boat and are soon met by their grandfather James MacKenzie. He takes the boys to live with him, their grandmother and their Aunt Kirsten. James hates Boers because his son, the boys' father, died in the Boer Wars. He will not let Boers farm the land he and his son cleared. And his prejudices lead to Harry getting in trouble at school. Another possible complication: Kirsten is attracted to Willem, the doctor, who is a Boer.
James was not educated because he had to help out on the family farm. He is very religious--he won't allow pictures in the house and he opposes dancing. Though he thinks nothing of pulling a gun on his enemies.
The movie's title comes from the fact that the boys find a baby abandoned on the beach and decide to take care of it themselves, afraid of what would happen if they tell anyone, because they know what it is like to live in an orphanage.
This is a good family film but nothing spectacular. It focuses on traditional values and has a 'Little House on the Prairie' quality to it. James is stern but loving, though not as easygoing as Pa Ingalls. He expects much from his grandchildren and believes in corporal punishment. The boys' grandmother provides an appropriate balance, showing sympathy for the boys when it is needed but still faithful. Kirsten is quite appealing and somewhat attractive though not beautiful. And the boys are the center of the film.
All the acting performances were just fine, right down to the child playing the baby. I was surprised to see that Charlton Heston played James, because while he was good, he wasn't THAT good.
We need more family films like this.