Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of Adventures of Carol: Cult Guide

Dir: Harley Knoles

In the little kingdom of Balkany lived a king and queen who were not liked by their subjects. His Majesty was King John the Fifth, and Her Royal Highness was Queen Vesta. To them was born a daughter, the Princess Honore, who was placed in the convent of the Holy Sisters. The little kingdom rebelled against the extravagance of King John, and an attack was made upon the castle. Both the king and queen were assassinated. Princess Honore succeeded to the throne. In love with her and coveting the crown was Baron Stefano, Prime Minister, but his love was not returned. This incurred the ill-will of the Prime Minister, who set out to overthrow the little kingdom and turn it into a republic with himself as ruler. Prince Boris renounced his title and cast his lot with the peasantry. He was loved by the common folk and proved a leader. During the annual fair people gathered in the capital from far and near. There were rumors of an uprising. The young queen had not brought about much change in the conduct of the official household. The extravagance had continued to eat up the revenue raised by the heavy tax, and the people were protesting and demanding that something be done for their relief. These rumors reached the girl queen, and clad in the garments of a peasant girl she went forth during the fair to learn what she could. In this way she soon learned of her disfavor. One day she met Prince Boris, who told her of conditions that existed. One of the government spies, overhearing his conversation, suspected that he was forming a plot against the young queen, who was not recognized by the spy because of her disguise. The spy hastily informed the Prime Minister, who ordered the arrest of Prince Boris. The soldiers were dispatched, and Prince Boris was placed under arrest. The young queen protested. She as his companion was also confined to the prison. The chief of the Royal Guard notified the Prime Minister of the arrest, telling him that during the struggle with the queen she defied him by proclaiming that she was the queen, and this aroused the suspicions of the Prime Minister. Alone he went to the dungeon and discovered that Boris's companion really is the queen. It dawned upon him that now he had her in his power, he will force her to make him her king consort, or bring about conditions that will speedily overthrow the government. Meanwhile Lesbia, a peasant girl, learns of the conspiracy and through her love for one Ivan, sergeant of the Royal Guard, she secured the release of the queen, who escaped in safety to the Royal castle. Next morning the queen heard the tolling of the prison bell. On asking her secretary what it indicated, she was told that her sweetheart, the Prince Boris, was to be executed at sunrise. She rushed into the office of the Prime Minister and forbid the execution. He laughed at her. Back in the village, outside the prison wall, the soldiers were drawn up to execute Prince Boris. But the people saw their beloved leader. rushed forward, overpowered the soldiers and released him from his bonds. An attack was then made on the castle. Prince Boris discovered his peasant girl companion to be none other than her Royal Highness, Queen Honore. The people were for revenge, but the queen told them of the Prime Minister's conduct and followed by her the crowd attacked Baron Stefano, which resulted in his death. The queen accepted Prince Boris as her beloved king consort.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Divorcée Adrienne Van Couver visited clairvoyant Mme. Melvina, who tells her that a tall dark man, Robert Warren, is excited over a letter he has just received from her, telling him she does not love him. The fortuneteller bids her beware of him, then tells her that Henry Armstrong, the man she loves, will never love her. The clairvoyant then tells Adrienne of a young girl, Lorraine, whose eyes are dim with the tears that she has caused in another part of the city, Lorraine greets her fiancé, Henry Armstrong, with ill-concealed dejection and he tells her he fears she still loves John Dean, but she dispels his suspicions. John Dean shares the secret of his silent love for Lorraine with his mother. Robert Warren goes out into the night; it is then he meets John. In the other's haggard face, John Dean sees traces of his own sorrow and trying to make it easier for this man who has been his friend for five years, he tells Robert Warren his story. Eight years ago he and Adrienne were married. For two years they lived on the money inherited from his father. It was then the baby came and the father found happiness in the touch of baby hands, but to his wife it made no difference. Then the baby became ill, and while its mother was away dancing, the little life slipped away. Six months later Adrienne was given a divorce. Then he and his mother came to New York and a few years later he met and loved Lorraine Barkley. Although Henry Armstrong was a dangerous rival, Lorraine loved him and he did not fear until the day when the Barkleys gave a reception. It was then he met Adrienne again and she taunted him with his love for the young girl. When she demanded money, he gave it to her. Lorraine sees this and misconstrues the situation. It is then her engagement to Henry Armstrong is announced. John finishes his story and Robert is maddened by the destruction of the halo he had built around the woman he loved. Robert makes his way to Adrienne, who has been nervous and ill at ease ever since she returned from the fortune teller. Robert's haggard appearance frightens her and she telephones Henry, but her call for help is only half-uttered when Robert forcibly takes the instrument from her. Alarmed, Henry starts off at once to help her. Meanwhile, John, fearful for Adrienne's safety, goes to warn her. He arrives just after Robert has made his escape after murdering Adrienne. When Henry arrives with two policemen, he finds John bending over the dead woman. He is arrested. Lorraine is brokenhearted when she hears of the arrest and pleads with Henry, who is a lawyer, to take Dean's case. Detectives search Robert's apartment and find here a coat with buttons similar to one found in the dead woman's hand, and one is missing. They trace Robert to the hotel and after a terrible fight he is taken into custody. Happiness came with the morning, for Henry took Lorraine's hand and told her she was released from her promise to marry him. Then she called up John Dean and told him that she was ready to marry him.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Richard Barton, a prosperous manufacturer, has an accomplished wife, Helen, and Bess, a child of five. Richard has in his employ a man addicted to gambling. After repeated warnings, he discharges him, fearing that some day he may have a losing streak and take some of the firm's money. Being of a moody, vindictive turn of mind, he vows revenge. The same evening the Bartons are giving a party and it is arranged that Mrs. Barton will recite for her guests. Charles Burham, a theatrical manager, is present and, charmed with her elocution, tells her there is always a position waiting for her should she ever desire to go on the stage. The party is abruptly ended when Richard receives the news that his plant is on fire, having been set by the discharged employee. Richard assists the firemen, gets drenched and catches a severe cold, which turns to tuberculosis. The litigation over the insurance of the plant has forced the little family to hard circumstances and they are compelled to seek cheaper quarters in which to live. During all this time, Howard Barton, a wild young brother of Richard's, who has been seeking his fortune in Australia, has at last achieved success, and decides to return to New York. He has written Richard at the plant, but when he arrives there, finds the place in ruins. He tries in vain to locate his brother's present whereabouts. Richard is discouraged, and during this strenuous time, his wife is like a guiding star, taking discomforts cheerfully and giving him the loving care, tender sympathy and moral support that only a good woman can give. He, however, has not much moral stamina, and adversity breeds peevishness and irritability. After a time they are so impoverished she has to pawn her jewelry. While in the pawn shop one day, she meets a stranger, who is greatly impressed by her beauty, and listening to her pitiable tale, tells her that if she will but let him entertain her that evening, she will not have to want in the future. Helen rebukes him, but not until he has given her his name and address. When she finds later that she cannot raise any more money and must have money to buy medicine, she dresses up for the sacrifice, and goes to Howard's apartment. A few days later, Howard's letter reaches Richard, who sends for his brother. Both brothers are happy at seeing each other, but when Richard introduces his wife, Howard recognizes her and she meets his brother's wife as well as the visitor to his apartment. Howard arranges for the little family to go into the mountains. He sees them off and makes all sorts of excuses for remaining away, until Richard insists that he come, as he has been injured while out sleighing. The presence of Howard is a trying ordeal for Helen as well as himself. Being unable to quell his passions, he resolves to leave for Australia, but while talking about the past, Richard steps into the room and hears the terrible truth. Angry, he turns his wife from the house. She goes to Burnham and obtains a position on the stage, at the same time caring for her child. She is cast in a play very similar to that in which she has figured in real life. Richard and Howard, now both in New York city, are present at the first night. When he sees Madame Bondorti on the stage, Richard is by her resemblance to his own wife, but when he hears her speak, he is sure it is her. A few days later, after Richard learns the great depths of the sacrifice his wife made for him, he realizes how he had been unjust to her, and through Howard's efforts, they are brought together through the pleadings of their child, Bess, who has been in an orphanage during these years of estrangement. After the loving union of the three, Howard leaves for Australia, never to return.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Agatha, called "Miss Petticoats," is daughter of a French nobleman and an American woman, lives with her grandfather, Captain Joel Stewart, since the death of her mother years before. Knowing nothing of her royal heritage, Agatha gladly takes a job as secretary to the wealthy Sarah Copeland, whose nephew, Guy Hamilton, immediately begins pursuing the new employee. Jealous of Agatha, one of Guy's former sweethearts, Mrs. Worth Courtleigh, starts spreading rumors about her, and when Joel hears a particularly scandalous one, he dies of shock. Taking Agatha away from all the gossip, Sarah sails with her to Europe, where Agatha finally learns about her bloodline, and also discovers that she is the heiress to a fortune. Then, when she and Sarah return home, Agatha forgives all the people who believed the rumors, and marries the Reverend Ralph Harding, who was always certain of her innocence.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Helene, who dances in a Greenwich Village cabaret accompanied on the violin by her grandfather, loses her job after his death. She then is hired as a portrait model by four artists--Jaffrey Darrel, Ned Lorrimer, Dick Turner and Stanley Sargent--all of whom become fascinated with her. Helene leaves the Village when Ned's jealousy disrupts the camaraderie of the quartet and becomes a stage star. Meanwhile, all of the artists have attained success except Jaffrey, who refuses to taint his art with commercialism. Helene, learning of Jaffrey's failure, visits him in the Village and accepts his marriage proposal.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Neglected by her grief-stricken father, a doctor, after the tragic death of his wife, little Eileen Homer changes the wording of her father's ad for a governess to read: "Wanted, a mother." A laborer named Giuseppe asks Dr. Homer to operate on his ailing son, but when the boy dies, the enraged father attacks the doctor. Eileen meets her father's friend, Dr. Thelma Winter, and that night, while dreaming that Dr. Winter has become her fairy mother, she walks in her sleep to the edge of the lake. Wandering aimlessly in his grief, Giuseppe rescues the girl and takes her home to fill the void left by the loss of his son. In trying to return home, Eileen falls from the fire escape and is rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Winter saves her life. Afterwards, the grateful Dr. Homer becomes a more loving father with the help of his new wife, Dr. Winter, and Giuseppe becomes the family's gardener.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Myron Leeds and his brother Roger are both in love with Mary, but when Myron wins her, his father disowns him. While Myron struggles as an artist to support his wife and little daughter Beth, Roger marries and settles into his father's sumptuous estate. Roger's maid Norah, concerned when the death of his little boy causes him and his wife to shut themselves off from all society, invites Beth to visit the estate posing as her niece. Beth endears herself to the couple, but Myron, driven to desperation by his poverty and his wife's ill health, decides to rob the estate. Roger hears that someone is breaking in, but in attempting to shoot the intruder, he wounds Beth instead. As a result of this unhappy incident, Roger resolves to share his fortune with his brother, and the family is reunited.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Following the death of her father, a Maine trapper, Jennie Cox moves to New York to earn her living. She is aided by a close friend, Professor Rolfe, who secures a typing position for her, but just as she loses the job through the schemes of a jealous co-worker, Rolfe dies, and Jennie is left alone and nearly penniless. With her last three dollars, she decides to have a good meal at the elegant Claridge, and there she meets Billy West, a wealthy man who is in the process of obtaining a divorce. Billy offers Jennie a job as his housekeeper, and soon she learns that he is an avid gambler. Billy is accustomed to losing moderate amounts of money, but when Henry Walker fleeces him out of $12,000, both Jennie and Billy's ex-wife Cora come to his rescue. After Cora hands him the money and departs, Billy proposes to his housekeeper.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Alan Winthrop, the younger son of an English family, accepts the blame for his older brother's loss of five thousand pounds at cards, and is turned out of the house. This gives the young man the opportunity he desired, travel. In America, Ralph Cornwell, an unscrupulous young millionaire, asks Edward Strong, a bankrupt financier, for his daughter's hand in marriage, in exchange for which Cornwell will clear all of Strong's liabilities. His need for money determines Strong to influence his daughter. Edith tells Cornwell that it is to be a marriage of convenience. At the wedding supper Cornwell becomes intoxicated, and after the guests have departed Edith struggles to free herself from his embraces. She eludes him and leaves the house. Cornwell finds her note saying that she cannot live with him. Alan Winthrop, now in America, gets a position as caretaker of Cornwell's mountain lodge, and is told to engage a woman to help him. Cornwell impresses on Alan's mind that in the mountains he is known as "Colonel Page." Unable to get work Edith applies for a theatrical position. When the manager intimates that he will give her a position if she is "nice" to him, she tells him she would rather die. That night, while Alan is making his way to the railroad station, preparatory to leaving for Sylvia Lodge, he sees her jump off a pier. He rescues her. She tells him that she has nothing to live for, and he engages her to help him in the care of Sylvia Lodge. Cornwell has an "intimate friend" in Laura Le Moyle, who left her husband to go with him. At a dinner given by Cornwell, he pays marked attention to Kathleen Lorraine, thereby Incurring the jealousy of Mrs. Le Moyle. Alan and Edith reach the lodge, and Jaeger warns them that the lodge is haunted. Saul Potter, the half-crazed ex-caretaker of Sylvia Lodge, sees them coming, and realizes that Colonel Page must be coming back. He tells Jaeger that the chance to kill Page has now arrived. He stares through the window into Alan's cottage, and Edith is frightened. When Edith communicates her fears to Alan he gives her a revolver, telling her to use it in case of need. Going through the lodge to prepare it for Page's arrival, Alan comes across a boudoir, beautifully furnished. On a dressing table he sees a framed photograph of Edith. Page arrives with his guests, among whom is Mrs. Le Moyle and Kathleen Lorraine. He again neglects Mrs. Le Moyle and she warns him not to goad her too far. He calms her, tells her to go to her room. Kathleen Lorraine has no maid, and while Alan is locking up the lodge Page tells him to send someone to help Miss Lorraine. Mrs. Le Moyle hears Page tell Miss Lorraine that he will come back to her later. Edith comes to help Miss Lorraine, while Pages goes to pacify Mrs. Le Moyle. Returning to Miss Lorraine's room there is a mutual recognition between Edith and her husband. Edith rushes from the lodge, goes to her cottage, and taking the revolver with her for protection leaves. Page leaves the lodge to follow his wife, and then Mrs. Le Moyle is seen pointing a revolver out of her room at the same time that Saul Potter is seen pointing his rifle. Both fire, and Mrs. Le Moyle throws her revolver out of the window. Page falls in the snow, where his guests come down in time to see him die. Edith meets Saul Potter and seeks his aid in getting away. Alan finds her and the revolver gone and sets out to look for her. He learns that Edith must leave at once, although she offers no explanation. There being no train until the morning, she is forced to stay at Saul's shack overnight. At the coroner's inquest the guests give their testimony and then Edith is summoned. She says she is the deceased man's wife. Fearing that Edith is guilty, and wishing to spare her, Alan says that it was he who killed Page, giving as a motive the fact that he found Edith's photo in a secret bedroom, and knew that Page was a villain. Then Saul Potter tells his story: A year ago he was caretaker at Sylvia Lodge. Page sent him on a trip to get him out of the way, and then he seduced his young wife, keeping her imprisoned in his secret bedroom. When his wife died he swore to have vengeance. He waited for Page to return and then killed him. At this point one of the guests brings a revolver which he found under Mrs. Le Moyle's bedroom window, and the coroner announces that the bullet which killed Page was of the same caliber as the ones used in this revolver. Unobserved, Mrs. Le Movie takes poison. After telling that she left her husband and sacrificed everything, only to be thrown off like an old glove by Page, she dies. Later that evening Alan receives a cable from his father saying that he knew the truth about the rambling episode, and bidding him return to his home at once. Alan tells Edith ho will go on one condition, that she accompany him as his wife. She agrees.

Dir: Harley Knoles

A social-climbing young woman marries Robert, a rich alcoholic, for his money. Although basically a good man, when drunk Robert treats her as if she's just one more thing he owns, and not his wife. Realizing her mistake, she leaves him. Her brother-in-law believes that the two of them actually do love each other, and sets out to bring them back together.