Kick in on AllMovie

The Willard Mack stage play Kick In starred John Barrymore on Broadway and was made into a motion picture in 1917, with Ouida Bergere writing the scenario. Bergere was at the typewriter once again when the story returned to the screen in 1922. This production, with its more lavish budget and fine direction by George Fitzmaurice, was an improvement on the earlier version. After serving time in Sing Sing, Chic Hewes (Bert Lytell) wants to go straight, but when he refuses to be a stool pigeon for the cops, they hound him mercilessly. Hewes witnesses a car accident in which Jerry Brandon (Robert Agnew), the son of the district attorney (John Miltern), runs over a child. He also meets Molly, the D.A.'s daughter (Betty Compson). Because he feels the child's mother was treated unfairly, Hewes decides to pull one last heist to square things. But while attempting to rob the D.A.'s safe, he's surprised to find that Jerry has beaten him to it. Jerry tries to lay the blame on Hewes, but Molly stands up for him. Hewes' brother Benny (Gareth Hughes) is killed while stealing a necklace and Hewes finds himself in more trouble when he tries to dispose of the body. Molly comes to his aid, and the D.A. lets him go. Hewes goes out West to start all over again and Molly follows a year later. A talkie version of this crime drama would be made in 1931, starring Clara Bow as Molly.