| A Gentleman of Leisure | |
| Director: | George Melford |
| Producer: | Jesse Lasky |
| Starring: | Wallace Eddinger |
| Cinematography: | Walter Stradling |
| Distributor: | Paramount Pictures |
| Runtime: | 5 reels |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | Silent (English intertitles) |
A Gentleman of Leisure is a surviving[1] 1915 American silent comedy film produced by Jesse Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It stars stage veteran Wallace Eddinger. The film is based on the 1910 novel A Gentleman of Leisure by P. G. Wodehouse and 1911 Broadway play adapted by Wodehouse and John Stapleton. Douglas Fairbanks was a cast member in the play several years before beginning a film career. This film survives in the Library of Congress.[2] [3] [4]
Robert Edgar Willoughby Pitt embarks on a steamship leaving London for New York. However, First Class is full and Robert is forced to travel with the emigrants on the lower deck, from where, by regulation, he cannot access the upper one. The beautiful Molly Creedon is traveling in First Class and Robert, in order to woo the girl, encounters many difficulties precisely because of the restrictions with which he has to comply.Arriving in New York, Robert heads to his exclusive club, where he bets that he could rob a house and avoid being arrested. Later, when Spike Mullins tries to rob him, Robert prevents him, but offers to team up on the caper. Spike suggests robbing the home of a deputy police commissioner known for taking bribes. The man, "Big Phil" Creedon, is Molly's father. Molly catches the thieves and "Big Phil" accepts a bribe to let them go, but warns Robert to keep away from Molly. Spike, who has become Robert's servant, steals a pearl necklace during a house party. To save him from arrest, Robert threatens to report Creedon's embezzlement. Molly discreetly returns the pearls, while Creedon accepts the deal, promising not to take any more bribes.
The film was produced by the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. Originally, Henry Woodruff was set to star in the film, but fell ill shortly after production began. He was replaced by Eddinger.[5]