My Boy

Jackie Coogan, the cute little "kid' in Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" gets starring billing of his own in this sentimental story. I suppose how you like this film depends on how you feel about little kids. I've always thought kids were great - if they're nice; if they're spoiled brats, you can have them.

Since Coogan's character in this film, "Jackie Blair," (and almost a dead ringer for the same child in "The Kid"), is a good-hearted boy with two strikes against him, it was easy to root for him.

In this story, Coogan plays a young boy who suffers a horrible consequence of having his mother die on ship en route to America. Before that, his father had just passed away in France. Knowing not a soul upon entering Ellis Isand in New York, he winds up tagging along behind a crusty old guy called "The Captain" (Claude Gillingwater). The old man doesn't want to anything to do with him but, out of pity, lets the kid stay one night. The Captain is in bad shape himself; overdue on his rent and so poor he can't afford his medicine. Meanwhile, two people are after the boy: somebody from the immigration office which now knows someone has slipped by them, and a rich old lady named Mrs. J. Montague Blair who is really the young boy's grandma. By the time she got word of young "Jackie's" plight, it was too late. So, she had people on the lookout for the kid, too.

What happens after that, you'll have to watch the show. I thought it had an interesting blend of sentimentality, action, comedy and drama. It reminded me in some ways of a Shirley Temple film, and that's not all bad!

In all, a nice silent film.....and I mean SILENT. This was part of the The Chaplin Collection "The Kid" DVD and, while the picture was cleaned up and looked pretty good, there was no audio to the film, no score. I found it weird watching a movie with literally no sound.

When I was a teenager, and just getting interested in collecting books on silent film (this was before you could actually GET them on tape for home use), I saw MY BOY on our local public television station, and I've never forgotten it. Besides the acting, I remember it for one scene of the New York skyline. Hope I can get my hands on a copy of this one to see it again! I recommend this one!! Jackie's the last word in "child actor."

When I popped the bonus disk for Chaplin's "The Kid" into my DVD player, I had no idea it also contained a full-length Jackie Coogan starring vehicle--one about as long as "The Kid".

Unfortunately, when the film began, I was less thrilled. The movie clearly needed restoration as the print was quite scratchy. In addition, there was no musical accompaniment--making for a rather dull viewing experience compared to the typical fully restored silent. So is it still worth viewing? Read on a see.

Jackie Coogan plays a newly orphaned boy on a ship from Europe bound for America (with Jackie's signature hair style, it might be likely viewers would at first think he was a little girl). While being held in a holding cell awaiting deportation since he has no family, Jackie manages a clever escape. Soon, Jackie latches on to an old sea captain. The crusty old guy wants nothing to do with him, but Jackie persists until ultimately he wins the old guy's heart. But soon the old man becomes sick and they can't afford his medicine--so it's plucky Jackie to the rescue. Ultimately, however, the boy's rich and kindly grandmother learns where the child is and wants to help out herself. What will happen next, you'll just have to see for yourself.

I so many ways, this film is an awful lot like "The Kid" but with a salty old captain playing the role of a foster-father instead of the comedian Chaplin. And, like the Chaplin film, by the end the child is taken from the captain--who he has come to love. As a result, the film does seem a bit lazy and derivative--but is still nice but schmaltzy entertainment. Coogan was a very good little star and the film was quite enjoyable.

It's sad that where so many important silent movies are lost - or ignored which is the same thing - this undistinguished piece of juvenilia survives.

Aimed at squeezing more action out of the Coogan character established in THE KID, the team has mounted the kind of vehicle which would later serve Shirley Temple. This one has comic chase routines (the best element) in place of the songs but the bearded grandfather character could wander into Shirley's films and not be out of place.

Unimaginatively filmed (head room for characters to stand into) and predictably scripted (will Jackie be dragged off to the orphanage?) MY BOY has little to recommend it.

Five-year-old orphan Jackie Coogan (as Jackie Blair, "The Boy") arrives at New York's Ellis Island; his father was killed in France, and his mother passed away during the voyage. United States immigration officials want to take him back, but young Coogan thwarts fate by slipping through with a family of eight. With no place to go (but with cuteness to spare), Coogan tags along with grumpy old man Claude Gillingwater (as Bill Hicks, "The Captain"). Desperate for lodgings, Coogan seeks to make himself useful to crusty Gillingwater; and, his growing fondness for the boy makes increasingly difficult for Gillingwater to throw Coogan out.

Coogan's late 1921 follow-up to earlier-in-the-year hits "The Kid" and "Peck's Bad Boy" owes much to the former (Charlie Chaplin) film. Still, "My Boy" does rate very highly on its own. First of all, Coogan is, by now, obviously a remarkable young actor. Suspicions about the five-year-old's performances owing everything to "Kid's" Chaplin and "Peck's" Sam Wood are laid firmly to rest. Coogan proves himself, herein directed by Victor Heerman and Albert Austin, an actor to be reckoned with.

Coogan's characterization is incredibly natural, under the circumstances. He steers clear of the tendency to become mawkishly cloying -- the road, unfortunately, taken by many a "child star". At this point in his career, the credit must be given to Coogan's camp (perhaps, the boy and his father). "My Boy" solidified Coogan as a box office super-star. Gillingwater and Mathilde Brundage (as Mrs. J. Montague Blair, "The Grandmother") provide fine support.

There are (at least) two absolutely indispensable film sequences to watch for, in "My Boy": The first is when Coogan gives himself a bath and shower; his performance is wonderful. The second is when Coogan runs away from a party, after being accused of stealing a lady's purse; the resulting cinematic poetry might have left Chaplin feeling envious. Coogan dancing to an organ-grinder's beat is almost as indelible.

"My Boy" features one of the most endearing child performers in one of his best roles.

********* My Boy (1921) Victor Heerman, Albert Austin ~ Jackie Coogan, Claude Gillingwater, Mathilde Brundage