The Good Bad Boy (Silent) (DVD)

Billy Benson has a reputation as a "bad boy" largely due to his habit of winding up in fist fights. Billy is usually fighting to defend his dad's reputation. John Benson is the town ne'er-do-well: a failed inventor who has labored the past 20 years on what he believes is a revolutionary fire extinguisher. Wealthy businessman Walter Howe realizes that it really is a million-dollar idea, and plots to steal it. He tries to buy John out for a song. When that fails, he has him arrested on phony charges. With John in jail, Howe breaks into his house and steals the prototype and plans to flee town on the next train. But Billy witnesses Howe making off with his dad's invention, and is hell-bent on seeing justice visited upon his father's tormentor.

Beautifully produced, The Good Bad Boy delivers powerful performances under the capable direction of Edward F. Cline and still pulls at the heartstrings today. Edward F. Cline began as a Keystone Cop but soon developed into a top comedy director. He is probably best remembered for directing the W.C. Fields' classics The Bank Dick (1940), My Little Chickadee (1940) and Never Give A Sucker An Even Break (1941).

• silent