"The Ragman" is a very sweet little film and it's actually aged very well. When the film begins, the local orphanage burns down and everyone thinks little Tim Kelly (Jackie Coogan) was killed. However, instead the kid just took refuge with a nice old Jewish rag dealer (Max Davidson). Soon the boy and the old man become best friends and their time together on the screen is quite sweet. How can the boy pay off his nice benefactor for taking him in...see the film and find out for yourself.
I liked pretty much everything about this film. Max Davidson is mostly forgotten today, but I love his films. This one, however, isn't a comedy so much as a sweet film--and Davidson's usual Jewish character is still VERY Jewish but toned down a bit an not played for laughs. While some folks today might think the film contains a few too many Jewish stereotypes, as you watch you realize the film is an excellent portrayal of a Jewish immigrant. Sure, he loves to make money BUT he's decent, honest and someone with a lot to like. This combined with the nice writing make this one well worth seeing...even 90 years later!
I liked pretty much everything about this film. Max Davidson is mostly forgotten today, but I love his films. This one, however, isn't a comedy so much as a sweet film--and Davidson's usual Jewish character is still VERY Jewish but toned down a bit an not played for laughs. While some folks today might think the film contains a few too many Jewish stereotypes, as you watch you realize the film is an excellent portrayal of a Jewish immigrant. Sure, he loves to make money BUT he's decent, honest and someone with a lot to like. This combined with the nice writing make this one well worth seeing...even 90 years later!