AllMovie

Essanay's A Gilded Fool begins as the dim-witted young hero inherits several million dollars. Deserting the wife and kiddies, the nouveau riche protagonist embarks upon a life of fast horses and faster women. Losing all his money at the race track, the young dope resorts to stealing his own child's bedclothing to square his debts (must be pretty expensive material!) Our hero is saved from himself by the intervention of the Salvation Army. Starting at the bottom as a common laborer, the "gilded fool" redeems himself by rising to the position of foreman. And it all happens in 12 minutes.