Summary
During a brief furlough from the American Expeditionary Forces, two comrades—one a quick‑witted gambler, the other a loyal sidekick—stumble upon a solitary dollar, which they use to win a raucous poker game. Emboldened by the windfall, they set their sights on Paris, only to be misdirected by a crooked map and a dubious ticket agent. Their misadventure lands them in Cardonia, a diminutive, sun‑kissed principality annexed to Spain, where the locals mistake the protagonist for the notorious outlaw known as “El Bandido.” While navigating the bewildering customs of the foreign court, he encounters the most beautiful senorita in Cardonia, a spirited aristocrat whose reputation for defiance rivals her father's iron‑handed rule. A series of daring escapades—ranging from a midnight duel in the palace gardens to a chaotic chase through the bustling market square—culminates in the hero rescuing the lady from an arranged marriage to a corrupt noble intent on usurping the Grand Duke’s power. In the climactic revelation, the senorita is disclosed as the Grand Duke’s long‑lost daughter, and the stranger, having proven his valor and wit, is appointed as the assistant ruler of the realm. The narrative closes abruptly with a return to the trenches, where the hero, now back in uniform, is chastised for overstaying his leave, underscoring the thin line between fantasy and duty.
Synopsis
Two pals in the A. E. F. are given a furlough. With a borrowed dollar they "clean up" in a crap game and start for Paris. Instead they land in Cardonia, a principality of Spain. Hero is mistaken for a bandit and falls in love with the prettiest senorita in Cardonia. After a series of exciting adventures he saves the girl from marriage with the villain, finds she is the daughter of the Grand Duke, and becomes assistant ruler of the kingdom. The last seen of hero he is back in camp doing k. p. duty for overstaying his leave.
Review Excerpt
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A Rogue’s Odyssey: Unpacking The Gentleman from America
When the silent era birthed a film that could simultaneously charm, bewilder, and provoke a chuckle, it was often a product of daring storytelling and a dash of audacious casting. The Gentleman from America—directed by the industrious duo of Raymond L. Schrock and George C. Hull—stands as a testament to that alchemy. The picture, released in 1923, follows two American soldiers on a fleeting leave, whose pursuit of frivolous pleasure sp..."
