Military Academy (1940)

Tommy Lewis, the son of a big time racketeer, is enrolled in military school under an assumed name as protection from the notoriety of his father. Tommy is assigned to share a room with Dick Hill, an egotistical school athlete, and Sandy Blake, a pampered rich boy. Even though all three boys are potentially good lads, each has a handicap that he must overcome. Dick suffers from self-importance, while Sandy suffers from the pampered neglect of his family. When Tommy's father visits the school to watch a track meet, he is recognized by a reporter, and Tommy is exposed as his son. Despite the derision, Tommy decides to stay in school, taking the advice of Major Dover, the headmaster, not to quit under fire. When Tommy sees Prentiss Dover, the major's bully son, steal money from the student cash fund, he decides to protect the reputation of the major and the school, and wires his father for money to replace the stolen funds. Tommy's good deed goes amiss, however, when he is caught replacing the money and accused of theft. Tommy refuses to denounce Prentiss, but under student rules, he is permitted to name his own defense counsel. Tommy names Prentiss, who then confesses all. In the uproar, the major offers to resign, but when the student body urges him to stay, the major embraces Tommy's example by refusing to quit under fire.