The sheer number of actresses in their late teen's who rose instantly to stardom during the silent movie era is breathtaking. Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Clara Bow, Greta Garbo and a basketful of other instantaneously recognizable names, barely out of the kid stage playing mostly adult roles, is astonishing. Add Molly O'Day to that basket. She was 16-years-old in the role of a raucous, heckling dancer (Curley Boyle) who attracts the attention of a vainglorious boxer (Richard Barthelmess). O'Day takes on the maturity of an adult in September 1927's "The Patent Leather Kid," as she and the much older boxer settle into a relationship on the eve of the United States entering World War One.
The boxer, known as the Patent Leather Kid, enjoys his high life-style. He makes a good living fighting in the ring. When the U. S. finally does declare war on Germany and its allies, Curley Boyle encourages him to volunteer. The scenario is adapted from a Rupert Hughes story examining the dilemma most young professional athletes face in the midst of a major war, when thousands around them are stepping forward to serve. The Leather Kid is more focused on beating his opponents to a pulp while privately admitting to Boyle he's deathly afraid of guns and bayonets. Curley sets an example for him by volunteering as a nurse in France. He still refuses to join until he's drafted. The movie's second half reveals if he can get up some courage up by being placed on the front lines, creating an interesting conclusion.
Molly O'Day, born Suzanne Noonan, was the youngest of 11 children. She relocated to Hollywood from New Jersey with her mother and sister Isabelle after her father, a judge, passed away. Molly was one of 2,000 who auditioned for Curley, submitting a resume listing her only movie appearance, an itty-bitty part in 1926's "45 Minutes from Hollywood." She easily made the transition to talkies. But before marrying actor Jack Durant in 1934, she declared bankruptcy at 21-years old, probably one of the youngest in America to ever do so. And this all the while still active acting in front of the camera. Once married, she retired from movies.
The role of the boxer in "The Patent Leather Kid" became a nice career boast for Barthelmess. His last hit was six years earlier in 1921's "Tol'able David." The "Leather Kid" was the year's fifth highest box office motion picture, reminding the actor of his late 1910s days when his popularity in movies crested in D. W. Griffith-directed films. After several of his films bombed during the mid-1920s, the boxing story appealed to him. In its first year of considering the acting awards for its ceremonies in May 1929, the Academy considered a 12-month period, from August 1, 1927 to August 1, 1928. In an unusual rule that lasted only one year, the Academy took into an account the performers' entire body of work for Best Actor and Best Actress. Barthelmess was nominated for this role in "Leather Kid" as was well as the 1928 film "The Noose." He was edged out by the only other nominated actor, Emil Jannings.
Barthelmess maintained his film acting career into the early 1940s. He became tired of playing character roles and decided, ironically in light of playing the rich boxer in "The Patent Leather Kid," to join the United States Navy Reserves after Pearl Harbor. He rose up the ranks to beome a lieutenant commander in the reserves. After the World War Two he made the choice to retire completely from films , living off his many real estate property investments.
