An okay D grade poverty row melodrama from Chesterfield, a studio with no real classics but filled with streamlined films that flowed easily on bottom of the bills, and rarely advertised in the newspaper. This one features silent child star
Junior Coghlan as a kid from the country who leaves for Manhattan to escape his boring pedestrian life and finds himself in trouble. He inadvertently becomes involved in a bank robbery and must fight to reclaim his freedom, learning a harsh lesson in the process. His sentencing to a reform school won't be an experience he'll soon forget.
The school of the title isn't really anything more than a metaphor for the past he wants far behind him, living with schoolteacher sister Ann Doran and prankster brother Dickie Moore. The later has a very funny scene where he arranges for the dress on a prissy young girl to remain up when she stands in recite a poem. His older sister smirks at the prank, but has to discipline him to set an example.
Both Coghlan and Moore were "Our Gang" veterans so this is of some historical value although it's frequently creaky as there are long stretches of no music or dialog. But the acting is sincere, and it has a few moments that stand out as unique. Coghlan does give a good performance, tough only on the surface, and a frightened kid inside. His dog Corky is adorable, well trained and a real scene stealer. Veteran character actor Richard Carle also helps himself to a few scenes as well, and Coghlan basically lets him run with it.
The school of the title isn't really anything more than a metaphor for the past he wants far behind him, living with schoolteacher sister Ann Doran and prankster brother Dickie Moore. The later has a very funny scene where he arranges for the dress on a prissy young girl to remain up when she stands in recite a poem. His older sister smirks at the prank, but has to discipline him to set an example.
Both Coghlan and Moore were "Our Gang" veterans so this is of some historical value although it's frequently creaky as there are long stretches of no music or dialog. But the acting is sincere, and it has a few moments that stand out as unique. Coghlan does give a good performance, tough only on the surface, and a frightened kid inside. His dog Corky is adorable, well trained and a real scene stealer. Veteran character actor Richard Carle also helps himself to a few scenes as well, and Coghlan basically lets him run with it.