The Ragamuffin (1919)
"The Hoodlum" (original title)

A spoiled young rich girl is forced by misfortune to fight for survival in the slums and alleys, where she becomes involved with all manner of unpleasantness.

Director:

Sidney Franklin

Writer:

Julie Mathilde Lippmann (novel)

Stars:

Mary Pickford, Ralph Lewis, Kenneth Harlan

Cast

Cast overview:
Mary Pickford	...	Amy Burke
Ralph Lewis	...	Alexander Guthrie
Kenneth Harlan	...	William Turner
T.D. Crittenden	...	John Burke (as Dwight Crittendon)
Aggie Herring	...	Nora
Andrew Arbuckle	...	Pat O'Shaughnessy
Max Davidson	...	Abram Isaacs
Paul Mullen	...	The Pugilist
Buddy Messinger	...	Dish Lowry (as Buddie Messenger)

Storyline

A spoiled young rich girl is forced by misfortune to fight for survival in the slums and alleys, where she becomes involved with all manner of unpleasantness.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | sociologist | east side manhattan new york city | manhattan new york city | gender disguise | 

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Taglines:

Mary Pickford In her Second Picture from her own Studios

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1919 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gadetøsen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mary Pickford Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (1997)

User Reviews

Great Pickford vehicle

Mary Pickford's appeal as `America's Sweetheart' is very clear in this film. While many of her fellow actors use an excessively theatrical style, she is totally natural. She inhabits her character completely and, contrary to the stereotype of her films, that character is anything but sweet for most of the movie. In fact, much of the delight of watching her is in enjoying her bad behavior!

Another impressive facet of the film is the authentic-looking slum where Amy Burke (Pickford's character) spends most of her time. Although created at a Hollywood studio, the slum almost smells like old New York.

The film does employ some ethnic stereotypes common at the time – but the poor characters are generally treated with affection, while the rich are seen as uncaring and in need of enlightenment. Also, it seems notable that Amy associates with ALL the kids of the slum neighborhood, not just those of her own ethnic group.