Editor's Top Picks Sharing the Atmosphere of All Wrong: Cult Guide

Dir: Raymond B. West

Scottish fisherman Andy MacTavish rescues a baby whom he discovers washed up on the shore during a storm, and names her Ariel. As a girl, Ariel often dances on the beach and dreams of a man who will appear to her out of the mist. Her dream comes true when she witnesses an airplane crash in which the pilot, Franklin Shirley, is injured. Andy and Ariel care for Franklin until he recovers his health, after which he returns home. Having fallen in love with Franklin, Ariel follows him to London, where, with the encouragement of impresario Abe Strohman, she becomes a renowned dancer. Now Franklin's social equal, Ariel uses all her wiles to win his love, despite the fact that he is already engaged to Elaine Shackleford. When Elaine's mother asks her to give him up, however, she reluctantly agrees and prepares to give herself to Strohman. Elaine surprises everyone by eloping with Richard Barrows, leaving Franklin free to wed his dancer.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

Algy, a British youth of ideals, is sent to America for an arranged marriage with a wealthy heiress. He goes, but reluctantly, for he is actually in love with the daughter of his vicar. The heiress, however, has a surprise in store.

Dir: Raymond B. West

Jack Harding, a wealthy ne'er-do-well, becomes involved with a Broadway vamp. When she is murdered, Jack is falsely accused of the crime and must turn for help to his lawyer--his wife.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

Scott Winthrop is a wealthy, matter of fact businessman who cannot conceive an undeniable right in another man's attempt to break up his home because he has happened to take a fancy to his wife. But Amy Winthrop, a romantic young woman with more spare time than is good for her, takes up with the notions of a so-called liberal organization and is in the arms of its leader on her wedding anniversary when her husband comes home with a costly present for her. She stubbornly announces that Mackley Stuart is her "elective" mate and that they are going away together. Unable to dissuade her, the husband sends word to the newspapers that he is relinquishing his wife to Stuart at their request. The publicity that follows practically forces them to wed. Later, while touring Europe, Winthrop runs across the couple in a Naples café. He manifests great pleasure and greets them as old friends. He congratulates them on their happiness and fills his former wife's ears with the same kind of twaddle that had lost her to him. With pitiless cruelty he pursues his campaign and the result he seeks is not long in coming. Amy throws herself at his head and he apparently is content. Stuart, furious, now finds himself in the position in which he had placed Winthrop. The three discuss the situation. Amy repudiates her husband and offers to leave him to return to her first love. Winthrop leads her to believe that he will take her back and then spurns her. Thus he proves to them that the fabric of morality cannot be lightly destroyed and is satisfied that he has ruined their lives as they ruined his.

Dir: Raymond B. West

An actress plans revenge on a man and gives it up for the sake of his little son.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

Seized with a fainting spell during a polo game, Donald Van Wye is given six months to live and told he must go to Arizona. His brother Tom, an irresponsible college youth, is wired to come home and take Donald's place. When Tom arrives, Donald finds that his little brother has committed himself to an actress named Maizie. Donald pleads with the actress to give Tom up, but when she refuses, Donald marries her in order to save his brother. The couple go to Arizona where their love ripens, and through Maizie's prayers, Donald regains his health. Mrs. Van Wye then comes to visit and tells Maizie that she is preventing Donald from assuming his rightful place in society. Crushed, Maizie starts across the desert alone, and when Donald learns of his mother's dreadful behavior, he follows Maizie and begs her to stay.

Dir: Raymond B. West

The Earl of Selkirk and his family learn of the impending arrival of American pirate John Paul Jones, they flee their castle, leaving behind Nora, the kitchen maid. Left alone in the house, Nora dons the clothes of her mistress and parades herself about the castle until the arrival of the king's light infantry. Because they mistake her for the lady of the house, she invites them to be her guests. Meanwhile, on board the pirate ship, third officer Darby O'Donovan recognizes the little island as his former home. Sent ashore by the commanding officer to investigate, Darby sees Nora, his old sweetheart, seated at the table with the redcoats and, impersonating an Irish gentleman, he interrupts the gathering. Later, a fisherman exposes Darby's true identity and he is arrested. Nora, determined to save her lover, disguises herself as a soldier and signals the pirate ship for help. After a thrilling battle between the pirates and the soldiers, the pirates escape and Darby sails to America accompanied by Nora.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

An narcissistic woman with the ability to charm, Leila Aradella reaps delight from preying upon weak men. Her first victim is John Morton, a talented lawyer, whom she ruins both morally and financially. Her second victim, Rex Walden, the generous son of society matron Mrs. Walden, becomes her complete slave. Mrs. Walden sends her elder son Franklin to try to dissuade Leila from toying with Rex's affections. Franklin, however, also falls under Leila's spell, and Rex is driven to suicide by her callous behavior. Desperate, Mrs. Walden enlists Adele Harley, a girl of strong moral character, to fight Leila for Franklin's affections. Adele's determined victory causes Leila to lose her confidence, and in a drunken state, she cuts her own face with a shard from her shattered mirror. Permanently disfigured, Leila ends a broken and lonely woman.

Dir: Raymond B. West

She was alone in the world save for her little sister, and little sister was dying. She wanted a doll for Christmas and Dorothy had no money. She stole one and three persons paid a heavy price for the tiny toy.

Dir: Raymond B. West

Doris Willard, the daughter of a village minister, achieves the realization of her great dream, a year at college. Doris, although a sweet and pretty girl, is greatly handicapped by her clothes. On her arrival at college she is eyed by the other girls with concealed amusement and curiosity and soon realizes that she "doesn't belong." The girls snub her at every opportunity and she is desperately lonesome and longs for companionship. The Saturday before Thanksgiving when everyone else has gone to the big Princeton-Yale game, Doris sits alone in her room. She picks up the newspaper and sees in it a picture that greatly appeals to her. It is a newspaper cut of "Bullet" Dick Ames, the universal choice for the '"All-American Eleven." She conceives a desperate plan. She thinks nobody at her college knows Dick and decides she will make the girls think he is in love with her. She writes a note to herself to which she signs Dick's name. The note is a proposal of marriage. This she drops on the porch of the girls' hall and it is picked up by one of the girls who reads it to the bunch. Daisy Arnold, the undisputed ruler of the "Beauty Squad," will not believe that Dick knows Doris, and writes to his sister, Eleanor, asking both her and Dick down for the holidays. In her letter she tells Eleanor about Doris claiming Dick has asked her to marry him. Dick sees the letter and he and his sister accept the invitation. When Dick sees Doris, he decides to help her out in her deception. Doris is panic-stricken on the night of the reception given in Eleanor's and Dick's honor, but when she is introduced to Dick he says, "Why sure, we are old friends," and Daisy and her friends are much disappointed, their plan for humiliating Doris having fallen through. After meeting Dick, Doris is unwilling to carry out the deception, but he insists, and before his visit is over they are much in love with each other. Doris, however, refuses to marry Dick, thinking he has asked her out of pity, but through Eleanor's efforts he manages to make her understand that he really loves her.