Jackie Coogan, cinema's first child superstar, breaks your heart in 60 minutes flat.
Believing her husband to be unfaithful, Helene Savelli takes her son, Jackie, to the Holdens' farm and dies shortly afterward. The Holdens keep Jackie, but he eventually goes to the city when the elderly couple lose their farm and retire to the poorhouse. Jackie next is befriended by Cesare Gallo, a sidewalk musician who was also the teacher of Paul Savelli--now a famous violinist. A chance meeting with Savelli by Jackie reunites him with Gallo just before the old man dies. Savelli takes Jackie home with him, happily discovers the boy to be his son, and restores the farm to the Holdens.
Acting
Jackie Coogan's face launched a thousand child star contracts.
Direction
Hopper milks melodrama like it's 1923 and butter is scarce.
Director
E. Mason Hopper
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Coogan's peak 'Kid' fame—his $4 million childhood earnings were later stolen by his parents, making this film's poverty narrative bitterly ironic.
US
