Despite being born on the wrong side of the tracks, Larry Kelly is a star athlete, top scholar, a swingin' drummer and one of the most popular guys at Andrew Jackson High School. His hard-working mother finds relief when, after five years, Larry's dad, Tim, returns home a wealthy man. The Kellys move into a fine home in the best section of town. But their idyllic new life comes to a halt when a newspaper reveals that the boy's dad is actually "Knuckles" Kelly, a notorious mobster. Larry is dumped by his girlfriend and he becomes an outcast at school. The boy falls into a downward spiral and lands himself in prison, facing a charge of manslaughter.

Child-actor Jackie Cooper began his career with the silent "Our Gang" comedies and made the switch to sound with great success. His first starring role in Skippy (1931) got him an Oscar nomination. His move to MGM in the 1930s brought memorable roles in such films as The Champ (1931) and Treasure Island (1934). He successfully switched gears in adulthood to the small screen where he starred in the 1950s and 1960s in shows such as "The People's Choice" and "Hennesey." Cooper is also an Emmy-Award winning TV director for his work on such series as "M*A*S*H" and "The Rockford Files." Director William Nigh helmed some 120 films, most notably Mr. Wong, Detective (1938), Black Dragons (1942) and The Strange Case Of Doctor Rx (1942).

A teenaged girl is heckled at high school because of her father's gangster past.