The Definitive Guide Inspired by the Vision of Alimony: Cult Guide

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.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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: James W. Horne

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

A series of 12 2-reel mystery thrillers, each story complete in itself. Episode titles: #1: The Strangler's Cord (1915); #2: The Disappearing Necklace (1915); #3: The Secret Code (1915); #4: The Riddle of the Rings (1915); #5: The Substituted Jewel (1915); #6: A Double Identity (1915); #7: The False Clue (1915); #8: When Thieves Fall Out (1915); #9: Under Oath (1915); #10: _The Wolf's Prey (1915)_; #11: The Man on Watch (1915); #12: The Man in Irons (1915).

Dir: James W. Horne

Although she loves Clive, a young lawyer, Margaret weds Deering to save her father from financial ruin, while passing years bring fame to Clive and result in his being elected district attorney, the man cannot forget Margaret. Deering conducts a magnificent gambling establishment in his mansion. His conduct toward Margaret causes her to hate him. In the meantime, having promised to break up the ring, headed by Garvin, which is protecting the gamblers, Clive arranges a raid upon the Deering establishment. Due to a leak, however, this raid comes to naught. While in the mansion, Clive comes face to face with Margaret. Deering watching the two, sees their old love well up anew. It causes the man to become more brutal than ever to his wife. The district attorney discovers his secretary to be the source of the leak which had frustrated the raid. A second raid proves successful. Before this takes place, Clive dispatches a note to Margaret urging her to leave before his men arrive. Deering, believing his wife had known of this raid all along, is wild with rage and attempts to kill her. This is frustrated and the gambler is arrested. He later makes a sensational escape and returns to his mansion in time to see Ramon, his partner, rifling the secret safe containing their funds. After mortally wounding the man, Deering attempts to kill Margaret. Dying, Ramon summons Clive and the police. The latter come just in time to save the woman. Again Deering tries to escape, but this time he meets his death in leaping from a balcony.

Dir: James W. Horne

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

Young clubman Bob Gilmore is called by telephone to his home, where his parents are giving him a birthday party. He overhears one of the male guests make a slurring remark about his mother's appearance, and punishes him right there, throwing the entire gathering into an uproar. Later in the evening he assumes guilt for a check which had actually forged by his foster father, in order to save the mother's feelings, but obtains a written confession from the guilty man for future use if necessary. Learning that he had been adopted from a foundling asylum in infancy, Bob decides to go to New York to see if he cannot learn his real name, which he understands begins with "Mor." He disguises himself and enters many homes, attired in evening clothes, and is soon known to the police as "The Midnight Man." In the meantime he has come into contact with members of the White Circle gang, and has many close physical encounters with them.

Dir: James W. Horne

A series of 25 2-reel Western thrillers in which a cowgirl aids the cause of justice and humanity in the Old West, often aided by her fiancé and her rancher father. Each episode tells a complete story in itself.

Dir: James W. Horne

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

A series of remarkable attempts are made upon the life of Don Louis, who is stopping at the Grand Hotel. About to retire, he finds a cobra coiled in his bed. Later, a strangler's cord swishes through the air and encircles the Spaniard's neck. The man escapes death by a miracle. The third attempt occurs when a huge chandelier suspended directly above the table at which Don Louis sits, crashes down. Unnerved, the Spaniard begs Hilton, one of the hotel detectives, to spend the night with him. A few hours later, Hilton is found bound and gagged. He tells of a mysterious visitor who overpowered him and kidnapped Don Louis. No trace of the culprit and his victim can be found. Renee, daughter of Valdez, the cigarmaker who supplies the hotel with his wares, informs Hilton that her father has disappeared. The sympathetic detective accompanies the girl home. The two hear strange noises in the curing house back of the cottage. Investigating, Hilton comes upon Valdez and Don Louis. The latter is buried neck deep in the ground. Hilton, attempting to interfere, is overpowered by Valdez, who appears insane. The man informs him that years before, Don Louis had him kidnapped, after which the scoundrel stole his wife. The woman later died in want. From the hour he learned the truth, the wronged man lived only for revenge. His story told, Valdez kneels beside the don's head and slowly shoves a cobra toward the man's face. Frances Ballou, summoned by Renee, arrives just in time to save the don's life. Hilton tells her the story while liberating Don Louis. The terrible ordeal has revealed to the latter the depths of his infamy and he slinks away. Her heart touched. Frances resolves to keep the matter from the police.

Dir: Alexander Butler

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: William Parke

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.