Easy to Make Money

• 1919

• Watchlist

Bert Lytell stars in this breezy light comedy. Jimmie Slocum (Lytell) can't stay out of trouble, and his father (Frank Currier) is constantly paying his debts and fines. But that's not all, Jimmie also makes bets with his dad, which he always wins, so his father winds up paying out even more. It's easy to see why: Jimmie bets his father 25,000 dollars that he will only be arrested once in a year's time, then he smashes up a saloon and is sentenced to a year in jail. While locked up, he meets bank robber Kid Miller (Bull Montana, who else?) and they become friends. The elder Slocum gets Jimmie out after only three months, and the young man goes off in search of more adventures. His travels lead him to Ethel Wheeler (Gertrude Selby), who runs a hotel in a little village. There's a mineral spring on her land, and Jimmie starts a money-making scheme involving it. He also opens a bank, and one day walks in to find Miller at work on the safe. Jimmie convinces Miller to reform and makes him the bank's cashier. Much to his father's surprise, Jimmie has actually made good.