Summary
In the vibrant, often deceptive, tapestry of early 20th-century American high society, 'Dukes and Dollars' unfurls a piquant satire of aspiration and artifice. We are introduced to Bertie (Billy Ruge), a dashing but utterly penniless clerk whose grandest ambition is to circumvent the laborious climb of industry by marrying into the gilded cage of wealth. His audacious scheme involves impersonating 'Duke Reginald de Posh,' a fabricated European aristocrat, to infiltrate a society ball teeming with eligible, and crucially, affluent, young women. His primary target: Eleanor, the discerning daughter of Mr. Sterling (Walter R. Hall), a formidable industrialist whose fortune is as vast as his skepticism. Unbeknownst to Bertie, Eleanor harbors a secret affection for Jack, an earnest, struggling inventor, further complicating his carefully constructed charade. Mr. Sterling, a man whose acumen extends beyond ledgers to human character, quickly senses a whiff of opportunism about 'Duke Reginald' and enlists the services of Gumshoe Gus, a discreet private investigator, to unearth the truth. Meanwhile, the *actual* Duke Reginald, genuinely impoverished and seeking solace from the superficiality of titled society, arrives in town, precipitating a cascade of farcical misunderstandings and near-exposures. The narrative culminates in a spectacular society gala, where the threads of deceit, genuine affection, and financial machination converge, unraveling Bertie's elaborate masquerade in a climactic revelation that forces all players to confront the true value of character over currency, and ultimately, unites hearts where they genuinely belong.
Review Excerpt
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Unmasking the Gilded Age: A Deep Dive into 'Dukes and Dollars'
Ah, the silent era! A veritable crucible of cinematic innovation, where narratives unfolded through the exquisite ballet of gesture, expression, and the rhythmic flutter of intertitles. Among the myriad treasures unearthed from those nascent years, 'Dukes and Dollars' emerges as a particularly delightful artifact, a film that, despite its age, still possesses a vibrant, almost audacious energy. It’s a frothy confection, yes,..."
