MY BOY
Starring Jackie Coogan and Claude Gillingwater
HARRISON'S REPORTS
December 31, 1921
Laughs and tears mingle in almost every one of the situations in this picture.
It is a deeply human story - the story of a little orphan boy's loyalty to an old sailor whom the little boy had followed after involuntarily escaping from the immigration station at Ellis Island. Although the old sailor at first does not wish to have the youngster around him and determines to return him to the authorities, the little boy so endears himself to the old sailor that he changes his mind and decides to keep him. Toward the end, the little fellow finds happiness in the arms of his grandmother, a wealthy woman, who was searching the city for him, but he is unwilling to go with his grandmother unless his pal, the old sailor, goes along, too. The grandmother, moved by the child's loyalty to his friend, consents to invite the old sailor to her home.
"My Boy" is far superior to "Peck's Bad Boy," not only from an appealing, as well as entertaining, point of view, but also from a moral one. In "Peck's Bad Boy" no moral was conveyed - only the pranks of a little child were shown; in "My Boy," children are taught to be loyal to their friends. This lesson is conveyed not in the form of a preachment, but in that of an entertainment.
This picture should help endear little Jackie Coogan to picture-goers still more. His acting is natural. Claude Gillingwater, as the sailor, also deserves mention. The story, on the other hand, is substantial, unfolding something of real interest.
It should entertain every member of the family.
MY BOY
Starring Jackie Coogan and Claude Gillingwater
VARIETY
January 6, 1922
They say that Chaplin taught little Jackie Coogan to act before the camera. Maybe he did, and if so, Jackie hasn't forgotten. In "My Boy," a Sol Lesser production, directed by Victor Heerman and Albert Austin, released by First National, Jackie is the same wistful, lovable kid, still unspoiled, who looks directly into the eyes of the actors who play opposite to him.
There is a pretty, simple heart interest story. Jackie is shown as a lovable orphan arriving at Ellis Island via steerage, detained, but escaping and following an old sea captain who has been kind to him. When later, Jackie comes into his won by being taken up by his wealthy grandmother, he insists that the old captain be included in the adoption or he won't stay. This is the basis for a series of alternately humorous and sentimental scenes between the two. All that is necessary to record in the way of praise for the feature is that Claude Gillingwater is cast for the role of the old captain. One would have to be without a heart not to be moved by the child and its reciprocation.
"My Boy" will chalk up a hit with any kind of an audience anywhere in the world.
For more information, see "My Boy" as our "Feature of the Month"