CinemaSerf

This film is real only noteworthy for the charming effort of the 15 year old Vaudeville star Leon Janney ("Junior") who is desperate to impress his down-at-heel actor father "Nat" (Henry Walthall). The latter was once a formidable presence on stage and screen, but fell foul of alcohol and the law, and is now little better than a drunk. The young "Junior" is determined to fight to get his old man back on his feet - despite a general scepticism from all around, and the older man's apparent penchant for self-destruction. It runs too much to melodrama, the direction tries to create an atmosphere with too many lingering close ups and the writing is sometimes really pretty cringeworthy. That said, the sentiment is not overplayed by the young Janney - indeed, at times it is actually quite touching - and there is quite a fun cameo from erstwhile film director King Baggot as "Henry Field". One of these films that you watch and then forget, I'm afraid...