Summary
In the vibrant maelstrom of Jazz Age New York, the seemingly innocuous existence of Adele Clark, a boardinghouse domestic, is abruptly upended by an unanticipated inheritance: the coveted Clark's Field property. This sudden elevation from obscurity to affluence propels her into the tutelage of a finishing school, where the Machiavellian Signorina Vitale, a veritable siren of continental allure, deftly steers Adele and her earnest suitor, Tim Sullivan, toward the seductive siren call of European travel. What begins as a grand tour swiftly devolves into a bacchanalian descent into the 'fast set,' where Adele's newfound wealth fuels an escalating spiral of reckless extravagance and moral lassitude. The steadfast Tim, unable to tether her to their shared past or simple virtues, retreats to America, leaving Adele adrift in a sea of superficiality. Her ultimate entanglement with the avaricious Italian fortune-hunter, Prince Arnolfo Da Pescia, culminates in a marriage of convenience, sealing her detachment from her former self. The narrative reaches a fever pitch with the discovery of a latent will, unequivocally designating Tim as the rightful heir to Clark's Field. A frantic transatlantic dash ensues, bringing Adele and the duplicitous Arnolfo back to New York, where Arnolfo's desperate gambit to purloin the incriminating document is tragically cut short by a hotel conflagration. From the ashes of his demise, and the dissolution of the property dispute, a chastened Adele finds a path to redemption, ultimately reuniting with Tim, her moral compass, in a poignant affirmation of enduring love over fleeting lucre.
Synopsis
Boardinghouse servant Adele Clark is unexpectedly awarded the ownership of a certain piece of New York City property known as Clark's Field. The trustees send her to a finishing school, whose headmistress, Signorina Vitale, persuades Adele and her sweetheart, Tim Sullivan, that she should travel in Europe. Adele's new riches cause her to lose her sense of proportion, and she soon is involved with a fast set indulging in the jazz life. Even Tim cannot curb Adele's extravagance, and he returns to America while Adele marries Italian fortune-hunter Prince Arnolfo Da Pescia. When a will is discovered naming Tim as the rightful heir to Clark's Field, Adele and Arnolfo hurry to New York, and Arnolfo tries to steal the will, then dies in a hotel fire. All dispute over the land is ended when Tim and Adele are united.
Review Excerpt
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The Allure and Peril of Prosperity: A Deep Dive into 'Dangerous Money'
Stepping back into the cinematic tapestry of 1924, one encounters a fascinating artifact of its era, Dangerous Money, a film that, even a century later, retains a compelling resonance. This silent drama, featuring the luminous Bebe Daniels and the ever-charismatic William Powell, delves into themes that remain evergreen: the corrupting influence of sudden wealth, the seductive pull of social climbing, and the endurin..."
