The Gentleman from America

1923 film

February 19, 1923 (1923-02-19)

Running time

50 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Gentleman from America is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson and Louise Lorraine.^[1] It also featured a young Boris Karloff 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.^[1]

Plot

Two pals in the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I, 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 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 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.^[2]

Cast

Hoot Gibson as Dennis O'Shane (credited as Ed "Hoot" Gibson)
Tom O'Brien as Johnny Day
Louise Lorraine as Carmen Navarro
Carmen Phillips as The Vamp
Frank Leigh as Don Ramón Gonzales
Jack Crane as Juan Gonzales
Robert McKenzie as San Felipe (credited as Bob McKenzie)
Albert Prisco as Grand Duke
Rosa Rosanova as Old Inez
Ricardo Cortez as Bit Role (uncredited)
Sidney De Gray as Bit Role (uncredited)
Boris Karloff as Bit Role (uncredited)
Burton Law as Bit Role (uncredited)
Karl Silvera as Bit Role (uncredited)

References

^ ^a ^b "Progressive Silent Film List: The Gentleman from America". silentera.com. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
^ "The Gentleman from America: Released by Universal". Exhibitor's Trade Review. 13 (13). East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Exhibitor's Trade Review, Inc.: 674 February 24, 1923.