High school senior Larry Kelly, valedictorian of his class, as well as the most popular boy in school, hopes to go to West Point, along with his best friend, Bill Davis. When his long absent father returns and buys Larry and his mother a mansion next to Bill’s house, plus a fast convertible, Larry’s life seems complete. Trouble begins, however, when a newspaper breaks the story that Larry’s father Tim is a retired gangster named “Knuckles” Kelly. Most of the kids at school shun Larry now, except for Bill, his sister Julia, and Salvatore, the son of a former bootlegger. Bill’s father, a judge, refuses to let his children associate with Larry and tries to get the boy removed as valedictorian. After graduation, the kids invite Larry to a dance, telling him that it is only their parents who are against him. Larry lets Bill drive his new car home, but when Bill accidentally hits a boy on a bicycle, Larry insists that Bill and Julia go home while he faces the police. When the police arrive, they find a bottle thrown into the backseat of the car, put there by some other boys at the party, and arrest Larry. He refuses to tell the police that Bill was driving, and despite his father and mother’s efforts to get him released, he faces a hearing. Afraid of their own father, Bill and Julia go to another judge with the truth and Larry is released. Because the boys who threw the liquor into the car also confess, and the bicycler will be all right, all charges are dropped against the boys. Finally, Judge and Mrs. Davis visit the Kellys and the happy families find that they enjoy each other’s company. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Watch Gangster’s Boy (1938)
