Summary
A scion of inherited wealth, Jack Merrill, finds his opulent existence hollowed by a profound ennui, a spiritual malaise his physician prescribes active engagement to combat. This quest for purpose inadvertently propels him into a bizarre social labyrinth where his own valet, Thompson, is discovered masquerading as the aristocratic Lord Sidney at Mrs. Parkin's elite soirees. Intrigued, Merrill adopts the guise of a British earl to infiltrate this world, only to uncover a veritable 'carnival of imposters'—a society where nearly every guest is living a manufactured identity. Beneath this farcical veneer lies a sinister plot: Mrs. Parkin has unjustly committed her brother, Mr. Remwick, to an insane asylum to usurp his estate, with Professor Frank Blight's complicity. Remwick's desperate escape and reunion with his daughter, Jane, Mrs. Parkin's unwitting secretary, ignite a frantic race. Jack, shedding his feigned identity for genuine heroism, offers to help them retrieve a crucial receipt from a safe, proving Blight’s involvement and Mrs. Parkin’s perfidy. A high-stakes chase ensues, with Remwick and Jane fleeing to his apartment, pursued by Mrs. Parkin and asylum guards. Jack, following close behind, alerts the police, culminating in Remwick's dramatic rescue. The incriminating receipt not only restores Remwick's sanity and demolishes his sister's illicit machinations but also paves the way for Jack to find profound meaning and affection with Jane, transforming his aimless luxury into a life of purpose.
Synopsis
Soon after wealthy idler Jack Merrill is convinced by his doctor to get involved in some activity to fight off his ennui, he discovers that his valet Thompson has been masquerading as Lord Sidney at the home of Mrs. Parkin. Jack goes to a reception there in the guise of a British earl and discovers that most of the guests are also fakes. Mrs. Parkin has put her brother, Mr. Remwick, in an insane asylum in order to gain control of his estate, but Remwick escapes and meets up with his daughter Jane who is Mrs. Parkin's secretary. Jack offers to help them open the safe that contains a receipt implicating asylum professor Frank Blight in the plot. Remwick and Jane drive off to his apartment pursued by Mrs. Parkin and the asylum guards. Jack follows in another car and notifies the police who rescue Remwick. The receipt proves Remwick's sanity and his sister's guilt. Jack wins Jane's affections.
Review Excerpt
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In the annals of early cinema, where narratives often grappled with the burgeoning complexities of a rapidly changing world, emerges Something to Do (1919), a film that, despite its seemingly unassuming title, delves with surprising depth into the existential plight of the privileged and the intricate web of societal deception. Directed with a keen eye for both melodrama and subtle satire, this silent-era production, penned by the collaborative minds of Maximilian Foster and Will M..."
