Summary
Kidder and Ko is a spirited subversion of the American 'prodigal son' trope, where the salt-sprayed rigidity of a New England cod-packing dynasty clashes with the neon-lit volatility of Chicago’s underbelly. Cuthbert Kidder, portrayed with a charmingly kinetic energy by Bryant Washburn, finds himself cast out from the ancestral piscine empire of Silas Kidder, not for a lack of intellect, but for a perceived devotion to the 'low-brow' geometry of the billiards hall. This cinematic journey follows Cuthbert’s descent into the urban labyrinth of Chicago, where his mastery of the cue becomes both his salvation and his undoing at the hands of predatory pool sharks. The narrative pivots from gritty realism to high-society whimsy when a chance encounter with James Knight, a titan of the tin-can industry, propels Cuthbert into a world of sprawling estates and midnight refrigerator raids. The film ingeniously transforms a tale of domestic exile into a celebration of industrial ingenuity, as Cuthbert’s accidental heroism—thwarting a pair of burglars—paves the way for the 'Keyless Kutless Kan.' It is a story that elegantly navigates the intersection of romantic pursuit, patent law, and the redemption of a reputation once thought lost to the felt of a pool table.
Synopsis
New England codfish-packer Silas Kidder wants his son to succeed him in the business, but because young Cuthbert seems interested only in playing pool, his father turns him out. In Chicago, Cuthbert beats a gang of pool sharks at their own game, and in anger they steal all his money and knock him out cold. He is picked up by tin-can magnate James Knight and his pretty daughter Julie, who invite him to recuperate at their estate. As he is rummaging through the icebox at midnight, Cuthbert encounters and captures two burglars and is subsequently hailed as a hero by Knight. Next, Cuthbert, posing as an inventor, persuades Knight to finance the marketing of a "cutless" can invented by clerk Bill Atwell. Kidder's Keyless Kutless Kan becomes a success and the young man earns a fortune. After exposing a bogus count who has tried to woo Julie, Cuthbert wins her love and takes her home to meet his proud father.
