| My Boy | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Victor Heerman; Albert Austin |
| Written by | Victor Heerman |
| Produced by | Sol Lesser |
| Starring | Jackie Coogan |
| Cinematography | Glen MacWilliams Robert Martin |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 56 minutes [1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
My Boy is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Victor Heerman and Albert Austin, and starring child actor Jackie Coogan.
As described in a film magazine, [2] little Jackie Blair (Coogan) arrives in New York City from France without a friend in the world, his mother having died in steerage during the voyage. He slips by the immigration officers at Ellis Island by blending in with a family of eight, and follows an old seaman Captain Bill (Gillingwater), who was looking for work along the waterfront, home. Jackie makes himself handy around the house and when morning comes and the Captain decides to take him back to the immigration bureau, Jackie begs to remain. Later, the Captain is taken ill and Jackie goes out and dances with a hand organ grinder to obtain the money needed to buy some medicine. Invited to a party at a settlement house sponsored by wealthy lady, Jackie is accused of stealing the lady's handbag. The handbag is found, however, and the lady turns out to be Jackie's grandmother Mrs. Blair (Brundage), who had been searching the city for him.
In the previous year, Coogan had made a meteoric rise to fame as the star of Charlie Chaplin's The Kid . The film was conceived and written expressly for him, [3] and his father, Jackie Coogan Sr., was given some credit in the press for helping to adapt the script. [4] The film title was reportedly suggested to the production team by Hollywood impresario Sid Grauman. [4]
The distribution rights to My Boy were transferred from Warner Bros. to Associated Artists Productions in 1956, and then to United Artists in 1958. A copy of the film is held by Library of Congress and by various film archives. [5] Also a 16mm print is in the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. [6]
The movie has been preserved and was released in 2004 as part of a Warner Home Video two-disc special edition of Charlie Chaplin's The Kid. [7]
First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the country's largest theater chain. Expanding from exhibiting movies to distributing them, the company reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Theatres, Inc. and Associated First National Pictures, Inc.
John Leslie Coogan was an American actor and comedian who began his film career as a child actor in silent films. Coogan's role in Charlie Chaplin's film The Kid (1921) made him one of the first child stars in the history of Hollywood.
Albert Austin was an English actor, film star, director, and script writer, remembered for his work in Charlie Chaplin films.
The Kid is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, and features Jackie Coogan as his foundling baby, adopted son and sidekick. This was Chaplin's first full-length film as a director. It was a huge success and was the second-highest-grossing film in 1921. Now considered one of the greatest films of the silent era, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2011.
The House That Shadows Built (1931) is a feature compilation film from Paramount Pictures, made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the studio's founding in 1912. The film was a promotional film for exhibitors and never had a regular theatrical release.
The Singing Fool is a 1928 American sound part-talkie musical drama motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system. The film stars Al Jolson and is a follow-up to his previous film, The Jazz Singer. It is credited with helping to cement the popularity of American films of both sound and the musical genre. The film entered the public domain on January 1, 2024.
The Pilgrim is a 1923 American silent film made by Charlie Chaplin for the First National Film Company, starring Chaplin and Edna Purviance.
A Day's Pleasure (1919) is Charlie Chaplin's fourth film for First National Films. It was created at the Chaplin Studio. It was a quickly made two-reeler to help fill a gap while working on his first feature The Kid. It is about a day outing with his wife and the kids and things do not go smoothly. Edna Purviance plays Chaplin's wife and Jackie Coogan one of the kids. The first scene shows the Chaplin Studio corner office in the background while Chaplin tries to get his car started.
Harold Goodwin was an American actor who performed in over 225 films.
Oliver Twist is a 1922 American silent drama film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist, featuring Lon Chaney as Fagin and Jackie Coogan as Oliver Twist. The film was directed by Frank Lloyd. It was selected as one of the best pictures of 1922 by New York Times, Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Walter J. Israel handled the costuming. Studio interiors were filmed at the Robert Brunton Studios in Hollywood. The film's tagline was "8 Great Reels that make you ask for more. Will Hays says Jackie Coogan Films are the sort the World needs." A still exists showing Fagin training his wards to be pickpockets.
Araminta Estelle "Minta" Durfee was an American silent film actress from Los Angeles, California, possibly best known for her role in Mickey (1918).
Strangers of the Night is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Niblo. It was produced by Louis B. Mayer and released through Metro Pictures.
Little Lord Fauntleroy is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and Jack Pickford and starring the latter's elder sister Mary Pickford as both Cedric Errol and Widow Errol. The film is based on the 1886 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. A statue depicting Pickford's role exists today on the facade of New York City's landmarked I. Miller Building.
Little Sunset is a 1915 American comedy silent film directed by Hobart Bosworth and written by Charles Emmett Van Loan. The film stars Hobart Bosworth, Gordon Griffith, Rhea Haines, Joe Ray and Marshall Stedman. The film was released on May 6, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
Skinner's Baby is a 1917 American silent comedy film starring Bryant Washburn, Hazel Daly, James C. Carroll, and U.K. Haupt. This film projected Washburn out of obscurity; it was quite a success. It was Jackie Coogan's first film role, as the baby, though uncredited. The film is believed to be lost.
Trouble is a 1922 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin and written by Max Abramson. The film stars Jackie Coogan, Wallace Beery, and Gloria Hope. The film was released on August 7, 1922, by Associated First National Pictures.
Varieties on Parade is a 1951 American musical film directed by Ron Ormond and released by Lippert Pictures.
Peck's Bad Boy is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Sam Wood and starring Jackie Coogan, Wheeler Oakman, Doris May, Raymond Hatton, James Corrigan, and Lillian Leighton. It is based on the series of books by George W. Peck. The film was released by Associated First National Pictures on April 24, 1921.
Jackie Coogan was an American actor whose career spanned decades, and included numerous feature films and television series. The child of vaudeville performers, Coogan began his career as a child actor, and had his first major role in Charlie Chaplin's The Kid (1921). He went on to appear in numerous films throughout his childhood and adolescence, and had a career as a television actor in his later life, appearing as Uncle Fester on The Addams Family (1964–1966), as well as numerous other guest-starring roles. Coogan's final film credit was the slasher film The Prey (1984), which was filmed several years prior and released shortly after his death in 1984.
Seeing Stars is a 1922 black-and-white eight-minute one-reel "trailer" film notable for a scene shared by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Seeing Stars was one of just two times the great silent comedians appeared together onscreen; 30 years later, Limelight (1952) was the second occasion.
