Despite being treated badly by his friends, Kelly takes sides with his father when people try to force him to leave the town.

The smaller company Monogram Pictures hired Cooper after he turned 13 years old to star in the film Boy of the Streets.

[4] The Scrantonian Tribune wrote that Robert Warwick had "the finest opportunity of his entire career as Tim Kelly".

[9] Karl Krug of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph said, "Gangster's Boy is a neat and comfortable "homey" picture, despite its titles.

[10] The Daily Times-News said that "the dramatic situations in Gangster's Boy are tense and go to make a fine afternoon or evening's entertainment".