The Jailbird

The Jailbird (1920) is a comedy, drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham rated 9.0/10.

Shakespeare Clancy is a jailbird who walks out with a crowd of visitors about the time "Skeeter" Burns, the prison printer, is discharged. Learning that a legacy awaits them in Dodson, the pair depart for the small Western town. Discovering that the bequest consists of a failing county newspaper and a plot of barren land, they hatch a plan to fleece the townspeople by selling shares in a bogus oil well. Problems arise when Clancy falls in love with society editor Alice Whitney. Clancy is conflicted but then they do strike oil! Concluding that his destiny is to be an honest man, Clancy returns to jail to finish serving his term. Slipping into the crowd of visitors, he dons his prison clothes and resumes work as though nothing had happened.

Cast

Douglas MacLean

Shakespeare Clancy

Doris May

Alice Whitney

Louis Morrison

'Skeeter' Burns (as Lew Morrison)

William Courtright

Noah Gibbs

Otto Hoffman

Elkemah Pardee

Monte Collins Sr.

Asa Grider (as Monty Collins)

Bert Woodruff

Grandpa Binney

Joseph Hazelton

Alva Finch (as Joe Hazelton)

Wilbur Higby

Joel Harvey

Edith Murgatroyd

Mrs. Whitney (as Edith Yorke)