''The Gentleman from America'' is a 1923 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
Edward Sedgwick
Edward Sedgwick (November 7, 1889 – March 7, 1953) was an American film director, writer, actor and producer.
Early life
He was born in Galveston, Texas, the son of Edward Sedgwick, Sr. and Josephine Walker, both stage actors. At the age ...
and featuring
Hoot Gibson
Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...
and Louise Lorraine.
It also featured a young
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...
in an uncredited bit part. The screenplay was written by George C. Hull, based on a story by Raymond L. Schrock. The film's tagline was "This might be called the story of a fighting American in sunny Spain - with flashing senoritas and romance in the background! It's something new for Hoot Gibson - but you'll like it, and so will your patrons!" It is considered a lost film.
Plot
Two pals in the
American Expeditionary Forces
The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
in France during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, Dennis O'Shane (Hoot Gibson) and Johnny Day (Tom O'Brien), are given a furlough. With a borrowed dollar, they clean up in a
craps
Craps is a dice game in which players bet on the outcomes of the roll of a pair of dice. Players can wager money against each other (playing "street craps") or against a bank ("casino craps"). Because it requires little equipment, "street ...
game and head for Paris. They board the wrong train and land in Cardonia, a principality of Spain. Dennis is mistaken for a desperate bandito and, at the same time, falls in love with Carmen Navarro (Louise Lorraine), the prettiest senorita in Cardonia.
In a series of adventures, Dennis saves her from marriage to a villain, learns she is the daughter of the Grand Duke (Albert Prisco), and becomes the assistant ruler of the kingdom. In his excitement, he forgets that he is a member of the American A.E.F. until a couple of husky
M.P.s arrive on scene to cart him off to a military prison. He leaves his bride with the excuse that
General Pershing
General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the West ...
has called him back to take charge of the Army, but he will return as soon as he gets the country's affairs in such shape that he can turn them over to an assistant.
Cast
*
Hoot Gibson
Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...
as Dennis O'Shane (credited as Ed "Hoot" Gibson)
*
Tom O'Brien as Johnny Day
*
Louise Lorraine
Louise Lorraine (born Louise Escovar; October 1, 1904 – February 2, 1981) was an American actress.
Life and career
Louise Lorraine was born Louise Escovar in San Francisco, California. One day, a photography salesman knocked on the door of t ...
as Carmen Navarro
*
Carmen Phillips
Carmen Phillips (born Anna Catherine Phillips; September 15, 1888 – December 14, 1966) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1914 and 1926, frequently as a "vamp".
Biography
A native Cali ...
as The Vamp
*
Frank Leigh
Frank Leigh (18 April 1876 – 9 May 1948) was a British stage and film actor.Goble p. 232
Biography
Born in London in 1876, Leigh settled in Hollywood and became a leading man during the silent era. Following the introduction of sound, his ro ...
as Don Ramón Gonzales
* Jack Crane as Juan Gonzales
*
Robert McKenzie as San Felipe (credited as Bob McKenzie)
*
Albert Prisco
Albert Prisco (January 28, 1890 – ?) was an American actor born in Naples, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of ...
as Grand Duke
*
Rosa Rosanova as Old Inez
*
Ricardo Cortez
Ricardo Cortez (born Jacob Kranze or Jacob Krantz; September 19, 1900 – April 28, 1977) was an American actor and film director. He was also credited as Jack Crane early in his acting career.
Early years
Ricardo Cortez was born Jacob K ...
as Bit Role (uncredited)
*
Sidney De Gray
Sidney De Gray (16 June 1866 – 30 June 1941) was an English actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1913 and 1940. He was born in England and died in Los Angeles, California.
Selected filmography
* '' Luke's Fi ...
as Bit Role (uncredited)
*
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...
as Bit Role (uncredited)
* Burton Law as Bit Role (uncredited)
* Karl Silvera as Bit Role (uncredited)
See also
*
Hoot Gibson filmography
This is a complete filmography of American actor Hoot Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962), including his performances between 1910 and 1960. Gibson appeared in more than 200 films.
Background
Gibson's career began in 1910 with early silen ...
*
Boris Karloff filmography
Boris may refer to:
People
* Boris (given name), a male given name
*:''See'': List of people with given name Boris
* Boris (surname)
* Boris I of Bulgaria (died 907), the first Christian ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire, canonized after his ...
References
External links
*
*
1923 films
1923 comedy films
American silent feature films
American black-and-white films
Universal Pictures films
Films directed by Edward Sedgwick
Silent American comedy films
1920s American films
{{1920s-comedy-film-stub