Playing the Swell

Forsaken and broke, Wanda figures out a way to get money. She puts sunglasses on a sleeping homeless person in the park, cuts a hole in the bottom of the derby she's holding, then hides under the bench and picks up the coins dropped by passersby who take pity on the "blind man." She is approached by a handsome young man whom she tries to impress.

Directed by Francis Corby, Playing the Swell leans on a strong ensemble — Wanda Wiley, Earl McCarthy, Francis X. Bushman — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1926.