Mon gosse

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."

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.

Little Jackie Blair arrives at Ellis Island, his father having been killed in France and his mother having died during the voyage. He manages to elude immigration authorities, and befriends an old sea captain. But the captain is out of work and behind on his rent. Meanwhile, Jackie's rich grandmother is searching for the boy.

Very cute and sentimental story, with Coogan in top form. Not as emotional or sentimental as "The Kid," but still quite charming with plenty of funny moments. Coogan's antics are adorable and so natural one has to wonder if he ad-libbed some of his scenes. Claude Gillingwater, as the captain, lends fine support.

This is a little gem. With the basic plot in mind, I'd recommend watching any of the foreign language versions, since the prints appear to be better, and the conclusion is more satisfying.

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)

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.