Summary
In a captivating narrative of misdirection and moral reckoning, we meet Gertie Jones, a nimble-fingered pilferer colloquially known as "The Chatterbox" for her distinctive habit of self-narration during illicit operations. Her latest target: a socialite's formidable $40,000 diamond necklace. Assuming the guise of a French maid, Gertie meticulously infiltrates the opulent household, only to be thwarted by the necklace's impenetrable safe. In a moment of inspired cunning, she orchestrates a faux burglary alarm, inadvertently summoning not the authorities she intended to mislead, but the legendary thief, Jimmy Hartigan. Their meeting, framed by the precipice of a botched heist, ignites an instantaneous, profound connection, culminating in Jimmy’s swift apprehension. Unyielding in her newfound affection, Gertie masterminds his audacious prison break. The duo subsequently establishes a life of collaborative crime in New York, their illicit partnership flourishing until a poignant encounter with Gertie’s sister, now a spectral figure ravaged by a prison-borne consumption, and a once-feared criminal reduced to a broken shell, forces a stark introspection. This visceral confrontation compels them to forsake their larcenous past, embracing a path of rectitude for the sake of their burgeoning love. Reborn as the respectable "Harts," they acquire a tranquil New Jersey farm, deftly outmaneuvering a venal real estate swindler. Their hard-won peace is imperiled by the arrival of Detective Kersey, a tenacious lawman hot on Jimmy’s trail. In a masterful stroke of improvisation, Jimmy and Gertie stage a dramatic rescue, purporting to save Kersey from a pair of escaped convicts. The grateful, yet oblivious, detective, convinced of the "Harts'" unimpeachable reformation, remains blissfully unaware of their true identities, granting them an unexpected, and thoroughly deserved, clean slate.
Synopsis
Gertie Jones, known among other thieves as "The Chatterbox" because she talks to herself while she works, becomes a rich woman's French maid after learning about her employer's $40,000 diamond necklace. To cover up the scratches left by her tools after she unsuccessfully tries to open the safe containing the necklace, Gertie telephones the police to report an attempted burglary. Jimmy Hartigan, a famous thief, arrives and after he and Gertie fall in love at first sight, he is arrested. After Gertie helps Jimmy escape from prison, they move to New York and continue their illegal endeavors until they see Gertie's sister, whose time in prison has left her consumptive, and a famous crook, now a broken wreck, and decide to go straight for each other's sake. As the "Harts," they buy a farm in New Jersey after foiling the plans of a crooked real estate promoter. When Kersey, a detective on Jimmy's trail, arrives, Jimmy and Gertie pretend to save him from two escaped convicts. The grateful detective, believing that the "Harts" have reformed, refuses to recognize them as the "Hartigans."
Review Excerpt
"
Ah, the silent era! A time when narratives unfolded through the sheer power of visual storytelling, where exaggerated gestures spoke volumes, and the flicker of a projector cast shadows of grand tales onto eager screens. In this captivating epoch, a film like Pretty Smooth emerges as a fascinating artifact, a testament to the enduring allure of crime, romance, and the ever-present human yearning for redemption. Released in 1919, this cinematic offering, penned by the talented Bayard Veiller..."
