The Good for Nothing

Dick Evans is truly branded a waste by his family and the town, and he seems to accept the label with a stubborn shrug. But the spark of ambition won't let him quit proving he belongs. This social comedy follows his plan to reinvent himself as an editor, a role that will force him to sharpen wits, couth, and a sense of responsibility. He navigates the meddling expectations of his stern father Joshua and the wary eyes of Rosabel Jordan, his devoted girlfriend whose father, Rosabel's Father, runs the post office as the town gatekeeper of respectability. Through a string of misadventures and halfhearted schemes, Dick clings to humor while chasing acceptance and a new place in the social order.

Released in 1912 and directed by Lloyd B. Carleton, this silent comedy stars Edwin August as Dick Evans and Ormi Hawley as Rosabel Jordan. The source material isn't listed, suggesting it may be an original scenario typical of studio fare.

Box office data for this 1912 release isn't readily available and there are no widely reported grosses. It appears to have been a modest, perhaps regional, release rather than a major commercial blockbuster of its day and for its time.

No major awards or nominations are on record for this early silent feature, a common fate for many 1910s productions. Its value rests in its glimpse of period humor and character dynamics rather than prizes, illustrating how ambitious misfits were portrayed on screen at the time for silent era audiences.

Reception to this title is not widely documented, but the synopsis points to enduring themes of pride, family duty, and social mobility. Dick's attempt to become an editor frames a conversation about integrity and the pressure to prove oneself. Its humor rests on a clash of propriety and new ambition.