By the humble standards of the independent movie, this entry is remarkably good – despite its somewhat off-putting title. Filmed in a real American small town with the obvious co-operation of a really enthusiastic, hundreds-strong local Boy Scout group and coming to a really thrilling, mind-boggling climax despite its slow and somewhat uncertain start, this is most definitely a must-see item from Alpha. I purchased the good quality Alpha DVD mostly because it's directed by Eddie Cline who handled some of my favorite W.C. Fields movies including Million Dollar Legs, My Little Chickadee and The Bank Dick.
As implied above, the script for the opening reels of this one seems both repetitive and slow and doesn't look like it's going to go anywhere. I don't know exactly how many times we are told that dad is trying to invent a new fire extinguisher but it must be at least ten or twelve!
Most critics don't realize that "B" features were made for people who come late. It's no use spending money on opening reels if cinemas are three-quarters empty. The only time I ever attended a local cinema in which every seat was occupied before the support feature commenced was when the main feature starred Bob Hope as The Paleface. So sit through the opening reels of The Good Bad Boy or fast-forward them until you come to the party scene.
Our star, Joe Butterworth made only 13 movies between 1920 and 1927. He played Sam in Penrod and Sam, had two important characters in Clara Bow's Black Lightning, a minor role in Mary Pickford's Little Annie Rooney, but ended up with an uncredited bit in Harry Langdon's Three's a Crowd.
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