A Very Good Young Man is a 1919 American comedy silent film directed by Donald Crisp and written by Martin Brown, Robert Housum and Walter Woods. The film stars Bryant Washburn, Helene Chadwick, Julia Faye, Sylvia Ashton, Jane Wolfe, Helen Jerome Eddy and Wade Boteler. The film was released on July 6, 1919, by Paramount Pictures.
As described in a film magazine, upon the death of his wife during the birth of his son, the wealthy Mr. Kendall (Barrows) places the child in a home and expresses a desire never to see his baby again. After two and one-half years of loneliness, however, he sends for the youngster. On the way home, the child is kidnapped from the carriage and the father and servants are mystified. In the meantime, Niccolo (Beban), an Italian junkman, finds a youngster among the rags of his cart and takes him home, intending on the following day to turn the child over to the police. He becomes attached to the little fellow and puts off going to the authorities. Another Italian, hearing of the Kendall reward, discloses that Niccolo has a baby concealed in his home and they take the child away upon the testimony of a grafting nurse. The death of a pickpocket, however, clears up the disappearance of the Kendall baby and the real Kendall heir is returned to his father, while Niccolo is allowed by a kindly judge to retain possession of his new ward.
As described in a film magazine, Jules Lemaire (Beban) comes to the lumbering country with an infant. He secures a position logging and the interest of Joy Farnsworth (Eddy), daughter of foreman Tom Farnsworth (Ogle). Big Jim Burgess (Oliver) becomes jealous of Jules and spreads false stories regarding the baby. A storm prevents the foreman from going to get the pay. This arouses the men and some want to attack Farnsworth. Jules offers to go get the money and Burgess goes along. Burgess leads Jules astray, and demands the note for the money, but Jules refuses to give it up. Burgess then tortures Jules, but is interrupted by the arrival of Joy and Herbert Sommerville (Neill), the latter having come for his baby. Burgess is captured, the money needed for the pay is secured, and the trio arrive just in time to save Farnsworth and his assistant from the wrath of the men. Sommerville takes his baby with him and Joy declares her love for Jules.