Summary
In a meticulously orchestrated comedic caper, the formidable Aunt Letitia thwarts Mary Ames's clandestine elopement, confining her to a gilded cage. Undeterred by the matriarchal decree, Mary’s audacious sister, Geraldine, conceives an unorthodox rescue. She approaches a high-ranking police commissioner, not for enforcement, but for the loan of a professional criminal, intending to stage a dramatic 'kidnapping' as a ruse for Mary's escape. Unbeknownst to Geraldine, the commissioner's dashing nephew, Paul, witnesses her peculiar request and is instantly smitten. Seizing the opportunity to be near the object of his sudden affection, Paul ingeniously impersonates the requested felon. His charade unfolds flawlessly, engineering Mary's liberation and facilitating her elopement. However, this meticulously crafted scheme spirals into genuine peril when the actual criminal, accompanied by a disgruntled former chauffeur and gardener, invades the estate, intent on pilfering its treasures. The farcical turns genuinely thrilling as Paul, shedding his masquerade, heroically confronts and subdues the authentic brigands, safeguarding the family jewels. The timely arrival of the commissioner and his retinue of officers unravels the entire intricate tapestry of deception and heroism, culminating in a joyous resolution and, shortly thereafter, a second, equally romantic, and perhaps less convoluted, elopement.
Synopsis
Mary Ames is caught while planning to elope, and locked in a room by Aunt Letitia. Her sister, Geraldine, plans to help her, and goes to her friend the police commissioner to borrow a criminal. Paul, the commissioner's nephew, sees her, and loses his heart. He decides to pose as the criminal to be near her. Everything works smoothly, Mary is released, and the elopement takes place; but just at that moment the chauffeur and ex-gardener, together with the real criminal whom Paul is impersonating, arrive, and attempt to rob the house. Of course, Paul subdues them, and saves the jewels. The commissioner and a number of policemen arrive on the scene, everything is explained, and ends happily with a second elopement a short time after.
Review Excerpt
"
Stepping back into the hallowed halls of silent cinema, one occasionally unearths a gem that, despite the passage of a century, retains an astonishing vivacity and charm. With Neatness and Dispatch, a 1918 offering, is precisely such a discovery. It’s a film that dances on the razor's edge between farcical comedy and genuine thriller, all while weaving a delicate thread of romance through its intricate narrative. In an era often characterized by melodramatic flourishes, this picture disting..."
