Beggars of Life
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
William A. Wellman
Wallace Beery
Louise Brooks
Richard Arlen
Edgar Washington Blue
H. A. Morgan
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Nancy lives in mortal fear of her foster father and, when he attacks her, she kills him in a moment of panic. The murder is discovered by Jim, a young hobo, who helps her to escape. Nancy dresses in men's rough clothes, and she and Jim hop a freight; thrown off by the brakeman, they take refuge in a hobo camp, the leadership of which is bitterly contested between Arkansas Snake and Oklahoma Red. The encampment is broken up by detectives, and Jim and Nancy take refuge with Mose and a seriously ill tramp in an abandoned shack. Red unexpectedly shows up with a stolen car and women's clothing for Nancy, helping her and Jim to escape in the car. The sick tramp dies, and Red, dressing him in Nancy's rough clothes, places his body in a lumber car which he sets aflame. The pursuing detective kills Red, and Jim and Nancy (who is declared to be officially dead by the police) hop a passenger train for Canada.
Director
William A. Wellman
Cast
Wallace Beery
Louise Brooks
Richard Arlen
Edgar Washington Blue
H. A. Morgan
Andy Clark
Mike Donlin
Roscoe Karns
Robert Perry
Johnnie Morris
George Kotsonaros
Jacques Chapin
Robert Brower
Frank Brownlee
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
The stage play on which the film was based, "Outside Looking In", was much admired by Charlie Chaplin, who saw it several times. On one such occasion his guest was Louise Brooks, who many years later would play the main role in the film version.
Notes
A silent version of the film was also released, at a length of 7,504 feet.
