Peck's Bad Boy on AllMovie

After his appearance in The Kid, little Jackie Coogan was obviously destined for stardom. For his first starring role, he was given this story written by George W. Peck, which had been made into a stage play by George M. Cohan. While the film didn't live up to the stage version (Moving Picture World said comparing the two "is to compare a two-dollar straw hat to an expensive Panama"), Coogan does have excellent support. Sam Wood directed the picture and the titles were written by Irvin S. Cobb. Young Henry Peck (Coogan) is a troublemaker -- the film begins with him opening the lion's cage at a circus and giving the whole town a scare. Although his father (James Corrigan) refuses to let him attend the circus as punishment, Henry manages to manipulate him into allowing him to go anyway. But his antics don't stop -- he puts ants in his father's "pleurisy pad" and causes a commotion at church. He gets his sister's boyfriend (Wheeler Oakman) into trouble. The boyfriend, however, executes a daring rescue at the end and, as a result, becomes Henry's pal for life.