The Spendthrift
Cast & Crew
Walter Edwin
Irene Fenwick
Cyril Keightley
Malcolm Duncan
John Nicholson
Mattie Ferguson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Gretchen Jans, an eccentric millionaire, attempts to instill in her two nieces, Frances and Clarice, her belief in economizing in clothes and money, as well as in thought and emotion. Frances rebels and elopes with wealthy Richard Ward, who indulges her in luxuries until after two years of her extravagances, he is nearly bankrupt. To help, Frances secretly arranges a $20,000 loan with dissolute clubman Suffern Thorne, who has designs on her. After she says that the money is from her aunt, Richard learns the truth. Through Frances, he lures Thorne to a midnight rendezvous in her boudoir, where he threatens Thorne at gunpoint. Richard returns the money, and saying that Thorne's kind are not worth shooting, he leaves them together. Frances leaves and goes to work as a stenographer, while Aunt Gretchen helps re-establish Richard in business. Sometime later, Thorne sees Frances leaving a factory. After he tells Richard of her whereabouts and vouches for her innocence, Richard is reconciled with Frances, who vows to give up her spendthrift habits.
Director
Walter Edwin
Cast
Irene Fenwick
Cyril Keightley
Malcolm Duncan
John Nicholson
Mattie Ferguson
Viola Savoy
Grace Leigh
J. C. Hackett
Roy Pilcher
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
A copy of this film survives in The Library of Congress.
Notes
The play that was the source for this film was originally copyrighted under the title Waste. This was Kleine's first American made drama. At the time of the filming, Irene Fenwick and Cyril Keightley were playing the leads in the Broadway production of Song of Songs. Mattie Ferguson played the same role in the stage production of The Spendthrift. One scene in the film was shot in the internationally known dressmaking establishment of Lucille, Ltd., in New York, owned by Lady Duff-Gordon. The models Miss Hebe White, Miss Yaha Grey, Miss Phyllis and Miss Dolores appeared in the film modeling clothes from the establishment. The film was re-issued on the state rights market by Photo Products Export Co. in November 1920.
