Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of A Lost Lady: Cult Guide

Dir: Harry Beaumont

A police patrolman must overcome enormous odds, including the apprehension of two villainous characters, before he can marry the girl of his dreams, the daughter of a millionaire.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

William Skinner is very pleased with the news his wife Honey is expecting their first child. He eagerly prepares for the new arrival, as he is sure it will be the next William Skinner Jr. When the bundle of joy finally arrives, much to his surprise, it's a girl. However, Honey and William are just as happy as if she were a he.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Skinner's Baby perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Skinner is afraid to strike his employer for a raise for fear he will be discharged. Mrs. Skinner scoffs at his fears, however, and finally induces him to demand an increase. Her humble spouse gets the proverbial "cold feet" at the final moment; so to "cover up" before his wife, he fibs a little and tells her he got the raise, taking the money from his private bank account. She forthwith makes him purchase a dress suit and "spruce up." Although it almost wipes Skinner's bank account out, he buys the clothes. Skinner is frantic; he sees the wolf at the door. But, by virtue of his dress suit and good appearance, he gets acquainted with some wealthy people and is enabled to put over a big business deal for his firm. Rushing into his company's office with the order, he demands a raise and a partnership in the firm. He gets both.

Dir: Edward LeSaint

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Skinner's Dress Suit perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Finding himself broke and out of a job in Paris, American William Ruggles joins the Turkish army and is sent to fight in its war in the Balkans. During a particularly hard-fought battle, he rescues a wounded Turkish soldier. Before he dies the Turk, out of gratitude, leaves William his fortune--but with the proviso that he take care of the Turk's three beautiful young wards. After he leaves the army, William and the three young girls--Roxana, Rosa and Bulbul--move to Paris, where William meets up with young Ruth Downing, the daughter of his former employer. They fall in love, but Roxana--who is also in love with William--is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her getting him and she will do whatever it takes to achieve that end.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Wealthy Easterner Dick Latham, determined to disprove his father Amos' accusation that he is an idler, rides the rails West to the mining town of Twin Bridges. Hugh Godson, the town's corrupt political boss, appoints Dick sheriff, supposing him an easily manipulated tenderfoot. To Godson's dismay, Dick proceeds to clean up Twin Bridges, closing the saloons and gambling dens, and forcing even the most hardened miners to attend church. Godson schemes to cheat Rosa Crimmins and her ailing father out of their ranch, which is rich in gold deposits, but Dick foils the plot and makes Rosa his deputy. When Dick learns that some rich Easterners are gambling in the hotel, he arrests them all, despite the fact that his father is among them. Amos, proud of his son's newfound manliness, buys the Crimmins ranch and gives his hearty approval to Dick and Rosa's romance.

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

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Architect Frank Melbury, whose drinking has made him a social outcast, and "Lovey," his derelict friend, are both hungry, so Frank burglarizes Regina Barry's home. He takes food and jewels, but when he overhears Regina telling her friend Elsie of her dissatisfaction with her fiancé Dr. Stephen Cantyre because she desires more out of the ordinary man, he decides to return the jewels. He is confronted by Regina, but she allows him to flee. Frank and "Lovey" then seek the help of "The City of Comrades," a social welfare home for the regeneration of derelicts. There Frank is helped by Dr. Cantyre, and is so reformed that he gets a job as an architect. Regina does not recognize him when they meet again, but he later reveals himself and she rejects him. He then enlists in the Canadian forces and is blinded in the Halifax explosion. Later, when Regina is about to marry Cantyre, she hears that Frank is ill in the hospital. She nurses him and agrees to be his wife.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Lord and Lady Algy separate on cordial terms, after he breaks his promise not to gamble again on the horses. When the wife of soap magnate Brabazon Tudway, is courted by Algy's philandering elder brother, Algy tries to help his brother escape Tudway's wrath by hiding Mrs. Tudway in his apartments. Tudway discovers her there and is about to accuse Algy when Lady Algy appears and, believing Algy to be innocent, tells Tudway that his wife was there to meet her. Although Algy and his jockey disgrace Lady Algy by getting drunk at a masked ball on the eve of the Grand Derby, the race in which Algy plans to stake his entire fortune on his pet racehorse, Lady Algy saves his fortune by betting her own money on a dark horse that wins. Algy know penitent, swears he will give up gambling forever, thus reuniting with his loving wife.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Filling His Own Shoes perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

William Manning Skinner, having attained a junior partnership in the firm of McLaughlin and Perkins, aspires to higher things. He figures that by working for himself he can become the Napoleon of the industrial world. He resigns his position and sets up in business for himself on a big scale. Skinner runs onto the verge of bankruptcy. He neglected to note that the prestige of the old-established firm he left had been largely responsible for his past success. Does he confess his failure to Honey, his adoring little wife? No. He informs her casually he is making money so fast he cannot count it. Honey confides to Mrs. McLaughlin, who in turn tells her husband. McLaughlin and Perkins decide they have made a tremendous mistake in letting Skinner get out of the firm. So it happens that just as Skinner is preparing to go into bankruptcy, a miserable failure, the partners make him a staggering offer to become again a member of their firm. It was Skinner's bluff that did it, coupled with Honey's unfailing belief in her husband's Napoleonic might.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

A struggling young composer of genius completes a masterpiece score for an opera, only to have it stolen by a less talented composer who rises to great success with it.