A woman struggling financially feels she must give up her child to offer him a chance at a better future – so she leaves him (along with a brief note) in the back of a vehicle. The men who discover this infant don't want anything to do with him, and they simply leave him near some discarded items where he’s found by a tramp—Charlie Chaplin. Initially reluctant to care for children, he finds himself unable to just abandon his new charge because a nearby policewoman is watching. Five years pass, and the pair have become an impressive team; the boy (Jackie Coogan) throws rocks at windows while his guardian repairs the damage! Meanwhile, the mother achieves success as an actress, and the boy’s biological father also finds prosperity—but that relationship doesn't last, and she begins to long for and then actively search for her lost son. When authorities notice the two are responsible for profitable acts of destruction, they try to take the child away and place him in a group home – and that’s when everything really escalates. A lovely connection forms between Chaplin and the energetic Coogan; Chaplin's direction highlights both their talents and the widespread poverty that led people to make difficult choices about separating from their children. The conclusion is precisely what it needs to be, so don't anticipate a lot of suspense—and the scenes featuring angelic wings near the film’s close combine humor with a sense of hopefulness very well. It brings a smile to your face and touches your emotions; it’s genuinely an exceptional movie.

Source on TMDB