Summary
From the very genesis of his existence, marked by a Friday the thirteenth birth and a nominal thirteen-letter burden, Reginald Jones is presented as a veritable lightning rod for cosmic caprice. His life unfurls as a relentless procession of vexations, each misfortune more preposterous than the last, in a Sisyphean struggle against an inherent, almost genetic, jinx. A foray into society, a chauffeur's ball intended as an escape from his fated solitude, paradoxically precipitates further calamity; his chivalrous intercession on behalf of a lady subjected to boorish torment is met not with gratitude, but a stinging rebuff. This initial, bewildering encounter merely presages a torrent of financial and personal ruin: a disastrous turn at matching coins, the perfidious betrayal of a stock market sell-off, and an utterly predictable, yet no less devastating, fleecing in a badger game. The nadir is reached when, through an ill-timed arrest for a street brawl, he forfeits a colossal inheritance of $999,998.60, missing his aunt's final rites by a cruel twist of fate. Desperate for a change of fortune, Reginald seeks solace on the high seas, boarding a schooner where serendipity, in a rare moment of grace, introduces him to the distinguished Professor Lattimore and his captivating daughter, Helen, ostensibly on a treasure hunt. A tender romance blossoms amidst the ocean's vastness, only to be shattered by Reginald's discovery of the captain's venal scheme to ransom Lattimore. Transformed by love and an uncharacteristic surge of courage, Reginald single-handedly confronts and neutralizes the entire mutinous crew, then compels the wireless operator to broadcast a desperate plea. A U.S. Destroyer, a symbol of timely salvation, miraculously materializes, securing their rescue. The narrative culminates in Reginald, finally unshackled from his lifelong hex, embracing matrimonial bliss with Helen, having unequivocally proven that even the most cursed existence can be redeemed by steadfast resolve and a dash of opportune heroism.
Synopsis
Born on Friday the thirteenth with thirteen letters in his name, Reginald Jones has been plagued with bad luck his entire life. Attempting to escape his jinx, Reginald attends a chauffeur's ball, where, after he helps a girl whose companion is berating her, the girl hits Reginald for interfering. After Reginald loses at matching coins, is sold out in the stock market, and is fleeced of his money in a badger game, he loses his inheritance of $999,998.60 when he gets arrested for fighting, and misses his aunt's funeral. Reginald then boards a schooner and meets millionaire Professor Lattimore and his daughter Helen, supposedly there to look for buried treasure. After falling in love with Helen, Reginald discovers the ship captain's plot to hold Lattimore for ransom. Reginald fights off all the crew members and forces the wireless operator to signal a U. S. Destroyer, which arrives and saves them. Reginald and Helen marry.
Review Excerpt
"
In the annals of early cinema, where narratives often grappled with the grand themes of destiny, fortune, and the indomitable human spirit, Never Say Quit emerges as a particularly charming, if somewhat farcical, exploration of these very concepts. Released in 1916, at a pivotal moment in film history when storytelling was rapidly evolving beyond mere spectacle, this picture, starring the engaging George Walsh, plunges its audience into the perpetually unfortunate existence of Reginald Jone..."
