The Auteur's Selection Complementing the Tone of A Rich Man's Plaything: Cult Guide

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

After Mary Page marries Fred Walton, she soon discovers that he is a womanizer. She tries to ignore Fred's affairs but, refuses to file for divorce even when Platt Sinclair, her husband's lawyer, urges her to do so. Mary does not realize that Sinclair is actually helping Fred, who is in love with his current mistress, Helen Lee, and wants to marry her. To escape her misery, Mary organizes a settlement house in the slums and there meets reporter Eric Mann, with whom she becomes very close. One night, as Sinclair goes to Mary's house to try to convince her to change her mind, he sees Eric through the window and informs Fred that she is seeing another man. Fred wants to sue Mary for divorce, but when Eric threatens Sinclair with disbarment, the suit is dropped. One night, Mary interrupts Fred during his evening with Helen on the same night that Jimmy Hope, a burglar, is robbing their house. The result of the night's activities are the death of Fred and the ultimate arrest of the real murderer who was obsessed with Hope.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

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

Finding that marriage conflicts with his carefree life, Teddy Brant, a dissolute man-about-town, fakes his own suicide, thus freeing Rose, his self-sacrificing wife, and his baby daughter Helen from life with an irresponsible drunk. Learning of her husband's alleged death, Rose remarries. Years later, Teddy, now a hopeless derelict, wanders the country until, unable to find a place to sleep one night, he strays into the waiting room of a train station. Here he sees a young girl being accosted by an elderly gentleman who entices her home. Teddy thinks nothing of the incident until he finds a purse lying on the seat and learns that the girl is his daughter Helen. Teddy hastens after them and in the ensuing fight, strangles Helen's assailant and then flees. Helen is arrested for the murder, but is acquitted when Teddy staggers into the police station and confesses to the crime, takes his life in his cell.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

Minnie, the village tomboy, meets a handsome Stranger after playing ball one afternoon. She invites him to see a bridge model her father has designed; but finding her intoxicated father in the act of destroying the model, she swears vengeance on the local bootleggers and joins a newspaper as sportswriter so as to expose their activities. Pike, the station agent, leader of the bootleggers, spreads a scandal about Minnie when she rejects him, but through the help of the Stranger everything is cleared up.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

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

John Montague Smith, a small town bank cashier forced to leave town when he is accused of bad business practices, catches a freight for the West. He rescues Jerry, a tramp, and both apply for work on a railroad construction gang but are refused employment by the foreman, Rand Barlow. John rescues Corona Baldwin from a runaway handcar, and as a result her father gives both men jobs. When John discovers that Barlow and Kinsey are delaying construction work to cause Colonel Baldwin to lose his franchise, he is promoted to foreman; and in spite of obstacles he completes the road. Barlow opens a drawbridge over which John is about to drive the first train, but he is foiled by Jerry. John rescues Kinsey and emerges from the battle victorious with Corona in his arms.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

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

Sarah Maitland is consumed by two interests, managing her steel mill and raising her children, Blair and Nannie, to be honest and caring. As a result, she is shocked when Blair seduces Elizabeth Ferguson away from his best friend, Doctor David Ritchie, and marries her. Elizabeth soon realizes her mistake and begs David to take her back, but his mother Helena, calling upon personal experience, warns the couple against an extra-marital affair. Then, Sarah is injured in a mill accident and doctors predict that she will die in a few hours. David manages to save her, however, and when Blair comes to see her, he vows to divorce Elizabeth so that she can marry the man she really loves.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

The film tells the story of a noble but poor woman who arrives at Boston in the 17th century. There she marries an old but quite rich doctor but does not become happy.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Carl Harbaugh

Broadway actress Sibyle Fane visits the home of Anna Mae Neil, daughter of a Hickville farmer, who is engaged to local druggist Virgil Cole. Impressed with Miss Fane, Virgil sells his business and sets out for New York City. Miss Fane advises Anna Mae to arrive in the city ahead of Virgil and monitor her fiancé under the guise of a famous model. The actress introduces Anna Mae to sculptress Violet Garden and songwriter Pinky Hale, who teach her the latest jazz steps. She flirts with Virgil in a fashionable restaurant and discovers his shifting affections at a party. Convinced of Virgil's unfaithfulness, Anna decides that talented young artist Peter Van Reuter is deserving of her love.