Image: Moving Picture World, July 22, 1916
The Smugglers
This five-reel silent comedy was released on July 6, 1916. Some scenes were filmed on California's Santa Catalina Island. A wealthy couple travels to Paris where they stop at a jewelry shop to buy an expensive pearl necklace. When his wife is not around, the husband buys an imitation pearl necklace and gives it to a chorus girl.
But, wouldn't you know it, he mistakenly gives the expensive pearls to the chorus girl. When he realizes his error, he doesn't want to admit his mistake to his wife, of course. But he also doesn't want to pay customs for the fake pearls, which is how the smuggling scenario comes about.
There is an existing copy of this film.