Lazybones (1925 film)

Lazybones is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film produced and directed by Frank Borzage and starring Madge Bellamy, Buck Jones, and Zasu Pitts. It opened in New York City on September 22, 1924, and received wider distribution by Fox Film Corporation during 1925.

Plot
Set in the early 20th century, the titular Lazybones (Steve), an indolent young man living with his indulgent mother, is in love with Agnes, a young woman from a wealthy family. Her sister, Ruth, summoned home to the village to be married advantageously, returns from two years at college with an unannounced infant. Afraid to tell her mother, she attempts suicide by jumping in the river, but Lazybones saves her and hears her story about secretly marrying a seaman who was lost at sea. Taking pity on Ruth, Lazybones looks after the infant, whom he names Kit, at first temporarily until Ruth can claim her, telling others that he found Kit and without revealing to anyone her mother' identity.

Agnes and Ruth's mother, when told by Ruth of the child, strikes Ruth and forbids her to acknowledge the child publicly, threatening to have it put into care if she does. Lazybones then adopts the child and refuses to reveal the mother, even though Agnes breaks off with him as a result. As the years pass, Ruth dies and Lazybones goes off to serve in World War I. When he returns a war hero, albeit underdeserved, he starts hoping to marry Kit now that she is an adult, he finds that she is in love with someone her own age.

Preservation
Prints held at Archives Du Film Du CNC (or Bois d'Arcy), Cinematheque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, the Museum of Modern Art, and the George Eastman Museum.