Artie, the Millionaire Kid on AllMovie

Best known to contemporary film fans for his milquetoast comedy roles, pixieish Ernest Truex was once a credible young leading man, as witness Artie, the Millionaire Kid. Based on a story by the prolific George Ade, the film casts Truex as the title character, who in the first reel is booted out of his wealthy father's home for flunking out of college. Hoping to prove his worth, Artie manages to gain control of some valuable railroad property, knowing that his Dad dearly covets the land. Thus, when Artie's pop (John T. Kelly) tries to purchase the property, he discovers that an "unknown party" is holding up the transaction, refusing to let the land go for anything less than $1,000,000. Finally acceding to these demands, the old man is both surprised and gratified to discover that his "opponent" is his own son. Supporting player John T. Kelly later became a familiar presence in the Columbia two-reel comedies of the late 1930s, especially those starring Charley Chase.