Man without a Conscience

• 1925

• Watchlist

Willard Lewis, who had made an impression while supporting John Barrymore in Beau Brummel, plays the highly unsympathetic title character in this undistinguished society drama. The ruthlessly ambitious Amos Mason (Lewis) comes to Manhattan with his fiancée, Ann Sherman (June Marlowe). He uses Ann's savings for his own ends and then dumps her. She gets a job as a maid for the wealthy Graves family, and when Mason sees Shirley Graves (Irene Rich), he is determined to have her. He gets Ann fired and, with the help of Mrs. Graves (Helen Dunbar), proceeds to win Shirley away from Douglas White, whom she really loves (John Patrick). Shirley marries Mason, who begins a real estate scheme. He also hires architect James Warren (Robert Agnew) to build him a mansion. It turns out that Warren's wife is Ann, and she tells Shirley everything. Then Mason's real estate scam goes sour and the police go after him. Mason gives himself up to the cops, and while he is in prison, he reforms. His change causes Shirley to give him a second chance, and she welcomes him back when he is released.