Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as A Fool and His Money: Cu...

Dir: Robert Ellis

After she is hit on the head with a golf ball, Jane Morgan, whose interest in criminals has led her to admire the notorious pickpocket Annie Adams, comes out of a coma believing she is Annie. After her father's influence saves her, when, dressed as a man, she is caught robbing a bank, Dr. Gregory, a specialist, is called in and, to her parents' dismay, he recommends that she be given complete freedom of movement. Gregory then disguises himself as "The Leopard," whose creed of relieving the public of its superfluous wealth, appeals to Jane. When her true sex is revealed during some rough-housing in a Chinatown den, she falls in love with him. After they rob her parents' safe and the Leopard shoots the intruding butler, Jane faints thinking that her love may be electrocuted. When she awakens recovered and learns that the shooting was acted out to shock her to health, she and Gregory marry.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Jackeroo of Coolabong perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William Parke

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Eva, wo bist du? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Bruce Wendell, the son of West Virginia coal mine owner James Wendell, graduates from West Point and prepares to lead a fighting unit to the front during World War I. As his father lies dying, however, he convinces Bruce to remain at home and guard the mine. Bruce's fiancée Ann Blair assumes that he is a coward and breaks off their engagement, but her brother Bobbie remains Bruce's loyal friend. Meyer, a German agent, persuades railroad president Parrish to refuse to transport Wendell's coal, but when Bruce adamantly refuses to close the mine, the spy's men decide to blow it up. While Ann is being abducted by Meyer, Bobbie is buried in an explosion at the mine. Bruce rescues Bobbie and then sends a plea to Lieutenant Parrish to rescue Ann. Meyer and his gang are captured and Ann renews her vow of love to Bruce.

Dir: Robert Ellis

As heiress to a large fortune, Marguerite is able to satisfy her love for beautiful clothes and a taste for adventure, while confronted by a multitude of schemers and gangsters bent on reducing her to poverty.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Key to Power perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Dir: Robert Ellis

In his effort to ensnare Paula, an American girl studying music in Paris, Darcelle intercepts her mail and steals the money sent her from America. When financial reverses beggar the Farrells, they send Paula her passage money and urge her to return home. This money is stolen by Darcelle. Desperate, and anxious to aid her mother and sister, the girl falls a victim to the scoundrel's wiles. Mrs. Farrell dies, believing that her daughter has achieved success abroad. Marjorie, Paula's sister, unexpectedly comes to Paris to live with her. Paula endeavors to hide her secret, but it is revealed when Austin, a young American who loves her, learns of the girl's affair with Darcelle. Late that night, half-crazed as the result of the denouement, Paula visits a cafe and witnesses a performance of the "Dance of the Apaches." The fate which is meted out to the male Apache deeply impresses the girl. During her absence, Darcelle, whose eyes have turned towards Marjorie, enters Paula's apartment. Confronted by the scoundrel, Marjorie stabs and mortally wounds herself to escape him. Darcelle flees just before the elder sister returns. Dying, Marjorie tells her story to Paula. Remembering the fate dealt out to the Apache, the girl vows to slay her sister's murderer. The police have been looking for Darcell, and the man takes refuge in Paula's apartment. The girl's attempt to slay him fails. Austin, who is aiding the police, enters the apartment with the latter just in time to save Paula's life. Darcelle leaps from a window in trying to escape and is killed. Austin learns Paula's story and forgives her.

Dir: Dallas M. Fitzgerald

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Ventures of Marguerite perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: Frank Beal

During a raging Montana snowstorm, Doctor Jim Barnes collapses at Esther Anderson's cabin door. Esther offers Jim refuge, but when he discovers that their food supplies are running dangerously low, he braves the journey into town in order to replenish them. On the way, he is overcome with exhaustion and fails to return. Esther, unaware of Jim's condition and abused by her stepfather, joins a theatrical troop and leaves home. Time passes and Jim finally finds Esther, but a vindictive member of her troupe accuses her of having an affair with the manager and Jim believes the accusation. He leaves and Esther goes to New York City where she becomes engaged to a jealous artist, although she still loves Jim. Sam Tuttle, a long time friend, is aware of Esther's continuing love, and so brings Jim to New York City in time to save Esther from an unhappy marriage.