Summary
J. Butterfield Conroy, an affable press agent known colloquially as 'Butts,' finds his inheritance dramatically curtailed to a mere $500 following his affluent father's demise, with the bulk contingent upon his demonstrable 'service to humanity' in a scientific capacity—a preposterous stipulation for a man of his profession. Fortuitously, or perhaps fatefully, a chance encounter in a bustling New York eatery introduces him to the captivating Mary Bruce MacDowell, whose eccentric uncle, Angus, an impassioned entomologist, is mid-pursuit of a rogue butterfly. Enamored, Butts shadows Mary to Bug Hollow, a secluded resort where her uncle meticulously hunts for an elusive insect specimen. A subsequent ill-fated poker game leaves Butts penniless, prompting a despondent trek back to Manhattan. Along this path, he crosses paths with Frank Morrison, an acquaintance who, with an eye on Mary, enlists Butts to engineer a fabricated scientific reputation for himself, hoping to gain Professor Angus’s approval for a courtship. Despite Butts's artful machinations proving remarkably successful in crafting Morrison's scientific facade, Mary, her affections unequivocally bestowed upon Butts, rebuffs Morrison's advances. The narrative culminates in a dramatic conflagration as Brazilian swindler Ybor Cavallo sets the professor's laboratory ablaze. Butts, demonstrating genuine courage and resourcefulness, heroically rescues Angus from the inferno. This act of selfless bravery not only secures Angus’s blessing for Butts’s union with Mary but also, crucially, fulfills the bizarre condition of his father's will, bestowing upon him the entirety of his rightful inheritance.
Synopsis
Press agent J. Butterfield Conroy, known affectionately as "Butts," is left only $500 when his wealthy father dies--until he can show that he has been "of service to humanity" in a scientific capacity. In a New York restaurant, Butts meets Mary Bruce MacDowell when her uncle Angus, an entomologist, chases a butterfly around his table. Smitten with love, Butts follows Mary to Bug Hollow, a resort where the professor is searching for a rare insect. After losing all his money playing poker, Butts starts to walk to Manhattan, when he meets Frank Morrison, an acquaintance, who hires Butts to invent a reputation for him as a scientist so that the professor will allow him to court Mary. Although Butts is successful, Mary, loving Butts, refuses Morrison. After Butts rescues the professor from his burning laboratory, set on fire by Brazilian swindler Ybor Cavallo, the professor consents to Butts' and Mary's marriage and Butts is awarded the rest of his father's estate.
Review Excerpt
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Hitting the Mark: Revisiting the Enduring Appeal of 'Hit or Miss' (1919)
In the grand tapestry of early cinema, where narratives often hinged on grand melodramas or sprawling epics, there occasionally emerges a gem of understated charm, a film that, despite its age, retains a surprising vivacity. Such is the case with 1919’s ‘Hit or Miss,’ a delightful confection that deftly weaves together elements of romantic comedy, social satire, and the perennial quest for validation. This silent ..."
