Beggars of Life (1928)

Beggars of Life
Directed by William A. Wellman
Written by Benjamin Glazer from a book by Jim Tully
1928/US
Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation
IMDb page
First viewing/YouTube

The Boy: Ain’t it funny when you think of the millions o’ people in warm houses and feather beds, an’ us just driftin’ ’round like the clouds? But I guess it’s about even when you boil it down. Even them people in feather beds ain’t satisfied – we’re all beggars of life.

This has a lot in common with Wellman’s Wild Boys of the Road (1933) despite being made before the stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression.

As the movie begins, Nancy (Louise Brooks) is standing over the corpse of her guardian, whom she has just murdered.  Shortly thereafter, hobo Jim (Richard Arlen) stops by to beg something to eat.  Nancy tearfully spills out the whole story.  The old man was trying to rape her.  Jim reluctantly agrees to take her with him and show her the ropes of the hobo life.  She dresses in boy’s clothing since the cops will be looking for a girl.  She proves to be a natural at chasing after trains.

Jim’s idea had been to split up but somehow they don’t and they become a team.  They camp out in hobo jungles.  In one, they meet The Oklahoma Kid (Wallace Beery) who is self-appointed leader of his gang of tramps.  Nobody, but nobody, believes that Nancy is a boy.  When they figure out that Nancy is a fugitive, the gang wants to ditch the couple but the Kid is holding out for his time with Nancy.  Can Jim protect her from this villain?

I enjoyed this.  Brooks is very good in a role that does not rely on her sex appeal or winning smile.  The rest of the cast is fine and Wellman keeps the film moving right along.

Restoration trailer