Homeless Angel

Myeong-ja (Kim Sin-jae) and Yong-gil (Lee Wuk-ha) are sister and brother. Sold to hoodlums as young children, the two are forced into a life of begging and stealing. One day, Yong-gil runs away from the hoodlums and joins a group of orphans. Philanthropist Bang Seong-bin (Kim Il-hae) sees Yong-gil being harassed by the orphans and takes him home. There are already four or five homeless children living with Bang, who is planning a charitable enterprise for orphans. With the help of his brother-in-law, Dr. Ahn In-gyu, Seong purchases land on which to build an orphanage, which he names Hyangrinwon, and begins his philanthropic work in earnest. Meanwhile, Dr. Ahn meets Myeong-ja by chance, rescues her, and employs her as a nurse. At the same time, two of the orphans, Yeong-pal and Hwa-sam, become discontented with life at the orphanage and attempt to run away. Unfortunately, Yong-gil, who tries to stop them, falls into the flooded river and is left in critical condition. Crossing the river, Yeong-pal goes to enlist the help of Dr. Ahn and Myeong-ja, and brings them back to revive Yong-gil. Yong-gil is saved, and the brother and sister enjoy a tearful reunion. Just at that moment, the hoodlums who have been after Yong-gil and Myeong-ja make their appearance. Everyone bands together to defeat the hoodlums, and they all swear allegiance to the Japanese Empire under the Japanese national flag. —Korean Film Archive