The Millionaire Kid (1936) On DVD

Rather than give damning testimony against his parents in their upcoming divorce case, millionaire scion Tommy Neville runs away from home and tries to survive on the street. A rival newsboy knocks Tommy unconscious and he is picked up by a fancy limousine whose occupants witnessed the attack. His rescuers are Terry Mallon, a racketeer with a heart of gold, and his daughter, Kitty. Hanging with the gangsters, the repressed rich boy has the time of his life and Terry teaches him some "mob" tactics, guaranteed to reunite Tommy's parents.

Betty Compson was an 18 year old violinist when she began appearing in a series of comedies usually with Fatty Arbuckle. She became one of the biggest stars of the silent screen earning $5,000 a week in her heyday. Some of her many notable performances include The Miracle Man (1919), The Great Gabbo (1929) and The Lady Refuses (1931). Betty headlines The Millionaire Kid, receiving strong support from former silent star Bryant Washburn and perennial cowboy sidekick Al St. John in this heartfelt Reliable Pictures production.

Now-forgotten actress Betty Compson largely made her mark in silent pictures, but like many performers of the era, found it extremely difficult to "cross over" into talkies. She shot a screen test for GONE WITH THE WIND (1939), for example (auditioning for the role of Belle Watling) but Selznick turned her down; this was only one of many such examples. Consequently, Compton spent her final years in a period of decline, turning up in many B and C-grade outings. This 1936 picture was one such effort. It concerns a wealthy young man named Tommy Neville (Bradley Metcalfe) who turns to a hard and desperate life of crime following his parents' divorce, in an effort to stay out of a marital quarrel and avoid hurting either his dad or his mom. Compson co-stars as Gloria Neville.