''Set Free'' is a 1918 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Tod Browning Tod Browning (born Charles Albert Browning Jr.; July 12, 1880 – October 6, 1962) was an American film director, film actor, screenwriter, vaudeville performer, and carnival sideshow and circus entertainer. He directed a number of films of vari ...

. It is not known whether the film currently survives, which suggests that it is a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy o ...

Plot

After discovering that her grandmother was a

gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...

, Roma Wycliffe leaves her old- money life with her Aunt Henrietta, and goes to New York City to live as a gypsy. Once she arrives in New York, Roma is mistaken for a thief and arrested. The kindly and rich woman Mrs. Roberts volunteers to take her under her wing to prevent her from going to jail. Her son John Roberts falls in love with Roma. Roma does not return his feelings, because his rich life style is a far cry from the freedom of gypsy life. John hires a group of street thugs to pretend to be his gypsy crew. The “gypsies” take their new role as gypsy thieves too far and start robbing a bank. John turns them in to the authorities. John and Roma agree to marry.

Cast

Edith Roberts Edith Roberts may refer to: * Edith Roberts (actress), American silent film actress * Edith A. Roberts, American botanist * Edith Roberts (writer) Edith Roberts may refer to: * Edith Roberts (actress) Edith Roberts ( – August 20, 19 ...

as Roma Wycliffe * Harry Hilliard as John Roberts * Harold Goodwin as Ronald Blair *

Mollie McConnell Mollie McConnell (September 24, 1865 – December 9, 1920) was an American silent film actress. McConnell was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Mills Seminary in Oakland, California. She studied further at "Miss Grant's college" in Chica ...

as Mrs. Roberts (credited as Molly McConnell)

References

External links

* 1918 films American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1918 comedy films Films directed by Tod Browning Universal Pictures films Silent American comedy films Films with screenplays by Joseph F. Poland Films set in New York City Films about Romani people 1910s American films 1910s English-language films {{1910s-comedy-film-stub