The Aspirations of Gerald and Percy (1910)
Gerald and Percy, tiring of the humdrum occupation of clerking in a department store, become interested in dramatic pursuits and aspire to become great emotional actors. In their daily work of waiting upon customers they seek to enliven the hours by interspersing scenes from various dramas with the price and quality of goods, much to the disgust and confusion of the various purchasers. They are in consequence transferred from one department to another, but all to no avail, as they grow wilder and wilder in their demonstrations, until they are finally kicked out of the store. By putting on a terrific front, they are finally engaged by a theatrical manager and appear in part of a performance of a drama, for the audience does not allow them to proceed far, but rising as one man, they hurl everything they can lay their hands on at the heads of the two aspirants. Gerald and Percy are then forcibly ejected from the stage door of the theater. Wandering aimlessly about, the ambitious pair see a sign calling for men for the army and decide to enlist. Driving the recruiting sergeant almost insane by their attempts at familiarity, they are finally marched off to the barracks. Tiring of military life, they desert and, after many hairbreadth escapes from recapture, arrive at the home of their former friend, Tony, the Italian organ grinder, who once impersonated for them so successfully the "Count of Montebello." After much begging on their part, he supplies them with some of his own raiment and they leave his house filled with gratitude. Tony, foolishly desiring to show off before his wife, arrays himself in one of the uniforms and is promptly arrested as a deserter by the pursuing soldiers, taken to headquarters, and sentenced to be shot, and only the timely arrival of Tony's wife, who dashes in front of the firing squad, prevents the carrying out of the sentence. Her explanations added to his protestations of innocence result in his being released, after being duly stripped of his uniform. Gerald and Percy return to their ballroom and, sitting down, in order to talk over their next move. Gerald discovers a large roll of bills in one of the pockets of the Italian's clothes. Filled with overwhelming joy at the discovery, they proceed to divide their ill-gotten gains, when Tony appears and with the aid of his trusty stiletto relieves them not only of the money, but clothing as well, and leaves them arrayed in a couple of barrels.
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GenresComedy
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Carl Laemmle | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| King Baggot | |
| Owen Moore |
