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I'd heartily agree with those above who praise this film. I've check Max Davidson's filmography on this site and it was interesting to see how lengthy his career was. I don't remember seeing another Davidson vehicle, but I will watch for them in future. Coogan, of course, is superb in this film. In my opinion, as good as he was in The Kid. The Rag Man is an American jewel and a wonderful snapshot of its times. Like Speedy, the New York City location footage in Rag Man is a great example of the "inadvertent documentary," literally freezing the Lower East Side in time. The two Yiddish intertitles are a treat. Sadly, sharp, but gentle contrast in ethnicity is almost lost as a comedic device in the wake of today's "political correctness" (who coined that stupid phrase anyway?) Face it kids, people are different and those differences can be humorous without being mean or berating. And finally, the film contains possibly one of the best Prohibition gags of all time when precious wine bottles are emptied for their value as recyclable glass. I highly recommend this sweet little movie.

When little Tim Kelly's orphanage burns down he is mistaken for dead. Making a run for it he crosses paths with rag man Max Ginsberg. Sullen Max wants no part of Tim but the kid is persistent and he is soon moved in and part of the business renaming it Kelly and Ginsberg. He is soon driving his horse and wagon about Manhattan for the disabled Max haggling with housewives for old clothes. It is by way of this that he finds out Max was robbed of a pattern by two partners years before. He sets out to square things for Max.

Max Davidson and Jackie Coogan make for a good teaming as dueling ethnic stereotypes. Davidson in particular without stridency brings across a cosmic inflection to his title cards. The debates are spirited, the familiarity between the two convincing. There are some slow moments as well as incredulous ones but overall it is a sweet odd ball buddy movie.

I have seen more comedy flicks in my life than I ever care to count, and yet this SILENT film, made in the 1920s, trumps them all! By chance, I caught it on one of those old-movie channels, and it had me on the floor dying with laughter. I was amazed--that little boy had such a phenomenal understanding of humor, and what makes a punch line or a reaction or comedic timing funny! Brilliant. If a movie keeps me laughing the whole way through, it deserves ten stars. (I am normally very picky about my comedies.) It's definitely a new favorite.

Does anyone know where I can get it? I'd love to see it again! Apparently Netflix and Amazon have never even heard of it. Blockbusters, of course, do not hold it.

An absolutely heart-warming tale about a young lad, Timmy Kelly, masterfully played by child star Jackie Coogan, who runs away from an orphanage after the shelter suffers major damage from a fire, The Rag Man,(Metro-Goldwyn, 1925), directed by Edward Cline,is truly a classic.

Young Timmy befriends a junk dealer, Max Ginsberg, poignantly played by Max Davidson. The two embark on a comical journey becoming close friends whereby each depends on the other. Young Timmy proves his loyalty and devotion to the man who took a chance on him whose sole companion to this point was an old Derby winning horse named Dynamite. Dynamite's oats bowl is a key element to this story too. You must watch to see what I mean.

The musical score was masterfully written by the late Linda Martinez.

This is a must-see film and I would be hard-pressed to believe anyone not enjoying this delightful film which has a running time of approximately 75 minutes. The film had a sequel later in 1925, titled, Old Clothes. The sequel is of particular interest because it features Joan Crawford in one of her earliest roles.

I sincerely hope these two wonderful films become available on DVD or VHS soon.

Tim Kelly (Jackie Coogan) runs away from his Lower East Side orphanage after it burns down. He's presumed dead and starts roaming the streets of New York. He encounters Max Ginsberg, an old Jewish junk dealer and begs to join him. They become the best of friends as the young boy tries to care for his aged senior partner.

Jackie Coogan was the child star of his day. This is not quite The Kid. He's a little older and this doesn't have Chaplin. The humor is nice and there are great bits like pouring out the bottles. It does need to get going with the drama faster. The patent story takes forty minutes to start. I can't believe the man's name is Henry Winkler. The story isn't that dramatic although the movie does have some fun moments.