The Millionaire Vagrant (1917)
Drama | 27 May 1917
Cast:
Charles Ray, Sylvia Bremer , J. Barney Sherry [ More ]Director:
Victor L. SchertzingerWriter:
J. G. HawksProducer:
Thomas H. InceProduction Company:
New York Motion Picture Corp.; Kay-BeeAn advertisement in the 12 April 1917 Motion Picture News Booking Guide listed the upcoming release by its working title, The Submerged. The 21 April 1917 [Sioux Falls, SD] Argus-Leader credited Margery Wilson as a cast member, although her name does not appear in other sources. The picture’s title had since been changed to The Millionaire Vagrant.
A column written by lead actor Charles Ray was published in the 16 May 1917 [Logan, UT] Journal, in which he explained that he prepared for a role by inhabiting it off camera. After purchasing some used clothing for The Millionaire Vagrant, Ray returned to his car in character and was approached by two elderly women, who assumed that he was a jitney driver. However, the women were intimidated by the actor’s rough exterior and opted to walk. A different version of the story appeared in the August 1917 Motion Picture, stating that Ray was on location at the veterans’ hospital in West Los Angeles, CA, known at the time as the village of Sawtelle. Some young pranksters had reportedly placed a sign on the car offering five-cent rides to nearby Santa Monica, CA. Ray discovered two elderly women in the back seat and, rather than trying to explain the misunderstanding, drove them to their destination. A news item in the 2 June 1917 Motography noted that Ray exploited his athletic training by performing numerous stunts in the picture, such as running along the roofs of tenement buildings, vaulting over “yawning apertures,” clambering down waterspouts, and balancing on ...
An advertisement in the 12 April 1917 Motion Picture News Booking Guide listed the upcoming release by its working title, The Submerged. The 21 April 1917 [Sioux Falls, SD] Argus-Leader credited Margery Wilson as a cast member, although her name does not appear in other sources. The picture’s title had since been changed to The Millionaire Vagrant.
A column written by lead actor Charles Ray was published in the 16 May 1917 [Logan, UT] Journal, in which he explained that he prepared for a role by inhabiting it off camera. After purchasing some used clothing for The Millionaire Vagrant, Ray returned to his car in character and was approached by two elderly women, who assumed that he was a jitney driver. However, the women were intimidated by the actor’s rough exterior and opted to walk. A different version of the story appeared in the August 1917 Motion Picture, stating that Ray was on location at the veterans’ hospital in West Los Angeles, CA, known at the time as the village of Sawtelle. Some young pranksters had reportedly placed a sign on the car offering five-cent rides to nearby Santa Monica, CA. Ray discovered two elderly women in the back seat and, rather than trying to explain the misunderstanding, drove them to their destination. A news item in the 2 June 1917 Motography noted that Ray exploited his athletic training by performing numerous stunts in the picture, such as running along the roofs of tenement buildings, vaulting over “yawning apertures,” clambering down waterspouts, and balancing on high window ledges.
The Millionaire Vagrant was released on 27 May 1917, preceded by a 20 May 1917 opening at the Covent Garden Theatre in Chicago, IL, and followed by a 27 May 1917 opening at the Isis Theatre in Indianapolis, IN. A review in the June 1917 Photo-Play Journal mistakenly referred to Ray as “Charles Crane.” The 7 July 1917 Motography stated that the picture was enjoying the same success as Ray’s other recent releases, The Pinch Hitter and Clodhopper (1917, see entries).
According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, this film is extant.
Young millionaire Steven Du Peyster, who feels little empathy for the downtrodden, bets attorney Malcolm Blackridge that he can easily exist on six dollars per week. After moving to the slums to win his wager, Steven befriends Ruth Vail, who devotes her time to helping the less fortunate. When Ruth is arrested on a false charge of soliciting, Steven decides he must forfeit his bet to save her. While attempting to reclaim his valuables from Malcolm, Steven discovers that the attorney has been preying upon the poor. Malcolm's dishonesty is exposed at Ruth's trial when she reveals herself to be an undercover detective. The attorney is arrested, and Steven enters a life of reform work with Ruth as his ...
Young millionaire Steven Du Peyster, who feels little empathy for the downtrodden, bets attorney Malcolm Blackridge that he can easily exist on six dollars per week. After moving to the slums to win his wager, Steven befriends Ruth Vail, who devotes her time to helping the less fortunate. When Ruth is arrested on a false charge of soliciting, Steven decides he must forfeit his bet to save her. While attempting to reclaim his valuables from Malcolm, Steven discovers that the attorney has been preying upon the poor. Malcolm's dishonesty is exposed at Ruth's trial when she reveals herself to be an undercover detective. The attorney is arrested, and Steven enters a life of reform work with Ruth as his partner.
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