- After being innocently friendly with an Italian woman, John Floyd tries to escape the wrath of Giacomo, her jealous husband, by having himself sentenced to jail for thirty days. But Giacomo also is sent to jail, and both are released at the same time. John explains matters to his fiancée, Lucille, and Giacomo is put on a ship before he can harm John.—AFI
- John Cadwalader Floyd, the wealthy son of an indulgent mother, is full of philanthropic impulses. Because of his tendency to flirt, his fiancée, Lucy Ledyard, has put him on probation for one month. This period barely starts before John finds himself involved with an Italian beauty named Carlotta Polenta, who is caught in an unhappy marriage. Her husband, who has just knifed a man for flirting with his wife, catches the pair. Polenta attempts to kill John. But John uses a table as a shield and makes his escape. Polenta swears to kill John. By coincidence, Polenta is hired as a butler by John's mother. Carlotta comes to the Floyd home to warn John of her husband's threats. The conversation between the pair is overheard by Judge Hooker, a friend of John's, who offers to help. Carlotta informs them that her husband is a reservist and will have to sail to Italy shortly for special work overseas. Polenta enters the room, recognizes John, and then flees because he is wanted by the police. Judge Hooker suggests that John go to jail for thirty days, where he will be safe from Polenta. John agrees to this plan, but does not tell his fiancée. In front of the Judge, John attacks Huntley Palmer, a friend of his. A policeman is called in and Judge Hooker, holding court in the Floyd home, sentences John to thirty days in prison. While in jail, John discovers a shortfall of $5000 in the warden's accounts. When the warden orders John to clean the spittoons, John tells him he knows about the missing money. The warden changes his tune, and allows John to live "the life of Riley" while he is in jail. But then Polenta is sent to the same jail for beating his wife. When he goes after John, John defends himself with a pair of shears. Polenta is released before the thirty days, and Carlotta brings word to John that her husband is waiting every day for him outside the jail. Meanwhile, the warden has secured a pardon for John, but John decides to stay put. Lucy and two of her girlfriends visit the prison, doing reform work. John explains to Lucy that he had himself arrested so that he could get some inside information about prisons for society. Lucy refuses to believe him and leaves. Despite John's efforts to remain in jail, he is tossed out when the thirty days are up. John then explains to Lucy the real reason for his stay in prison. That night he gets a telephone call from Carlotta, who tells him her husband has a plan to kill him. John meets two of his former prison companions in a plan to capture Polenta at the Floyd home. When a man comes through the door, they pounce on him, and roll him up in a rug. In the darkness, they don't realize the man is Judge Hooker. John's two friends depart. Then John hears a sound, turns, and sees Polenta coming at him with a knife. Lucy, who had seen Polenta sneak into the house, holds him at bay with a gun. John releases the Judge and Polenta is carted off. John and Lucy embrace.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content