My Boy

MY BOY (First National Pictures, 1921), directed by Albert Austin and Victor Heerman, under the presentation of Sol Lesser, stars little Jackie Coogan, in his second feature film following his scene stealing success in THE KID (1921) opposite Charlie Chaplin.

In his initial top-billed performance, Coogan plays Jackie Blair, a orphaned boy whose father was killed in France and mother who died on board a passenger ship bound for America after being two days out. Upon docking on Ellis Island, officials release all its passengers but one, little Jackie, who is to be deported back to Europe. Captain Bill Hicks (Claude Gillingwater Sr.), a crusty old man and former ship's master, notices this little boy. Learning about his circumstance from the officials, the old man decides to have the boy amused while waiting for deportation by having him going over and playing with the other eight children belonging to a third class passenger immigrant named Mama Pinkusowitz while arrangements for his return voyage are being made. However, Jackie thwarts both fate and immigration officials by sneaking through the gates as the Pinkusowitz family legally goes through. Before heading for their new home, Papa Pinkusowitz, who is making his head count of his kids, notices he now has an additional child. After Papa eliminates the extra child from the lineup and going on his way with his wife and kids, Jackie, the immigration child, is left to face life alone in the big city. Jackie soon stumbles upon Captain Bill once more, this time deciding to follow him to his shanty home. Knowing that immigration officials will be searching for Jackie, the old man softens up and decides to take him under his wing. The next scene that focuses on Mrs. J. Montague Blair (Mathilde Brundage) and her attorney reveals this rich matron to be Jackie's grandmother who, after reading a letter sent to her, has just learned of her late daughter's fate and that she now has a grandson who has disappeared from Ellis Island. In true pioneer director DW Griffith fashion, as fate would have it, Jackie is caring for the old man while his grandmother, who is arranging for a children's party at the settlement house, is not very far away.

MY BOY is not great Jackie Coogan material, but predictable and at times a cute story showcasing his many talents, indicating why he became a top child actor in his day. Memorable scenes for MY BOY include Jackie saying grace at the dinner table in the home of Captain Bill; giving himself a bath while standing in a bucket of water; and, singing and dancing on the streets in order to earn some extra money to buy medicine for the sickly old sea captain. While he attracts an accommodating crowd, this takes the business away from a rival organ grinder and his monkey, who decides he wants to keep the money meant for Jackie in spite of the boy wanting his share. As in many Coogan films, there is even moments of tears as well as laughter.

Co-star Claude Gillingwater Sr. (1858-1939) also gives a fine performance as a lonely old seaman, finding himself as the guardian to a young boy, sadly unable to find work because of his age. Because he owes back rent, the old man leaves it up to little Jackie in telling the landlord that he is is away in China whenever he appears at the front door. The only thing disappointing with this 52 minute featurette is that it ends abruptly, with no real satisfying conclusion, unless at the time there was a planned sequel in the making.

With a handful of silent movies remade during the sound era, it's surprising that MY BOY was not inspired in the 1930s by 20th Century-Fox as a revamped starring vehicle for its own popular child star, Shirley Temple, and retitling it as MY GIRL, particularly with the presence of Claude Gillingwater Sr., a familiar face in several of her films, to reprise his grumpy old man-turned-soft role, with Jane Darwell, another regular in Temple films, to play the matron grandmother.

MY BOY became one of many silent movies presented on public television's weekly series THE TOY THAT GREW UP, that premiered in 1965 (most notably on Channel 13 in New York City), and ending its run and revivals by 1972. Unseen in many years, MY BOY has become available on video cassette. The Grapevine Video presentation is not of clear picture quality nor nor of sharp focus, but it does include the same organ score that was used in THE TOY THAT GREW UP. But on the whole, MY BOY, a rare film to come by, makes satisfactory entertainment for any avid silent film enthusiast. (**1/2)

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."

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

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.