Half-heartedly forsaking his carefree life as a hobo, Benny Boggs (William Desmond) heads directly to the Army recruiting office when America enters WWI. Unfortunately, he shows up drunk, and is summarily rejected -- which was probably his intention when he liquored himself up in the first place. Certain that he's just plain no good, Benny goes back to the Road, but a chance meeting with an elderly farmer completely changes his life. Having been described as an "honest man" by the old farmer, Boggs vows to live up to this description, winning the undying devotion of heroine Beatrice Burnett (Mary Warren). And when he shows up at the recruiting office again in the final scene, Boggs is clean, sober, and gloriously "1-A." Leave it to director Frank Borzage to serve up a sentimental story without overdosing on sentimentality.
by Hal Erickson
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