Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of Carnival: Cult Guide

Dir: Harley Knoles

Hugh Eltinge, a struggling artist, and Mark Dunbar, a genius of the pen, whom the world has as yet failed to reward, live together in MacDougal Alley. Across the hall is Doris Golden, a reporter on the Evening Star, who enthuses over the work of both. Mark's novel is sold and Hugh and Doris see a new Mark. Mark begs Hugh to allow him to stake him until his pictures sell, but pleasure in his new clothes and new popularity dwindle as he sees his old friends will not profit by them. A happy idea strikes him and he buys all of Hugh's paintings on exhibition at a local dealer, requesting that his name be not mentioned. Mark rejoices with Hugh when he comes home to tell the news. Then the two decide Doris must also share with them, and together they go to a lawyer, and arrange to persuade him to send a letter to Doris saying her uncle in San Francisco has died leaving her a thousand dollars. In another section of the City Mrs. Trailes and her daughter, Ruby, scheme to ensnare a wealthy husband for the girl. Mark's reputation has impressed them. He is invited to attend a meeting of their Literary Club and the girl is given instructions to attract him. Mark meets the young society girl. Hugh and Doris, she is reporting the meeting, are also there and to them evidences of Mark's awakening infatuation are pitifully clear. Mark sees Ruby often. At a ladies' swimming club he is the guest of her mother. At a sign from her mother Ruby pretends to be drowning and Mark jumps in to her rescue. The friendship thus engendered ripens into love and it is not long before they are married. But early in his wedded life Mark begins to feel the pangs of disillusion. Ruby is pettish and extravagant and when he remonstrates with her, she breaks into tirades of scolding that drive him to silence. Doris discovers her uncle is alive, and, perplexed, goes to the lawyer, who tells her all. She writes to Mark, enclosing a check for the whole amount she has left and promising to send the balance as soon as she can. His wife intercepts the letter and accuses him of infidelity. Her true vulgarity asserts itself and he goes to the little studio. Ruby follows and finds him with Doris and another scene is enacted. Mark begs Hugh to look after Doris, then leaves. Hugh leaves a letter for Doris and a note in which he asks her not to read the letter before she has found happiness. Hugh tells a newspaper reporter with whom he is acquainted that he has inherited a fortune from his grandfather, and the account is printed in the evening paper. Ruby and her mother remember he is a friend of Mark's and ask him to call. Soon a closer intimacy than friendship develops and Mark comes home one evening to find Ruby in his friend's arms. Disillusioned, his last ideal, friendship, completely shattered, Mark hurries away. After the divorce, he seeks Doris and the two become engaged. She remembers the letter and opens it. Herein Hugh has outlined his plans, the story of the fortune was a hoax, wherewith to entrap Ruby. For the sake of friendship he had sacrificed himself to bring happiness to the two he loved. Mark telephones to him and when he comes the old feeling of happiness and love fills once more the little studio in MacDougal Alley.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Madge Evans, World Film Corp. juvenile star, is sent to her Quaker grandparents, Timothy and Tabitha Mendenhall, when her father and mother go to serve in World War I. After bidding farewell to the World stars, Madge goes to her grandparent's home where she experiences stern discipline. Jonathan Mendenhall, her uncle, is anxious to enlist, but is forbidden by his father, whose religion opposes fighting. Madge creeps into the old Quaker's heart by degrees, but he maintains unrelenting discipline in the household. Jonathan comes of age, enlists despite his father's opposition, and is disowned. When Madge's latest picture comes to town, the child implores her grandfather to take her to see it, but he refuses. Timothy secretly visits the theater, however, and is completely won over by Madge's acting. A change takes place in the old Quaker's nature as he praises Madge, forgives his son and writes to Madge's mother, whom he had cast out when she married against his will, to be sure and bring her husband back safe.

Dir: Harley Knoles

As a prank, college student William Lewis and some of his friends break into a house and are interrupted by a policeman who is accidentally shot. Will's friend Sid accuses Will of the shooting, but Will manages to escape and moves to a large city far away. He meets and marries Alice Hamilton, and they later have a daughter, Editha. Will has a job as a bank teller and everything is going fine--until Sid shows up one day and threatens to expose Will as the man who killed the officer unless Will helps him rob the bank. Complications ensue.

Dir: Harley Knoles

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Burglar 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

Evelyn Carmichael, a poor widow aware that she is about to die, writes to her wealthy father-in-law Lord Carmichael, who had disowned his son years earlier, pleading that he rescue his granddaughter Geraldine, known as Jerry, from a life in the slums. Lord Carmichael, an avowed woman-hater since his wife disappeared years earlier with his brother, expects Jerry to be a boy and is appalled to find otherwise. However, the lord is won over by Jerry's sweetness, and when Jim Dawson, a neighbor of Jerry's from the tenements, arrives at Carnimore Castle with his daughter Sophia, whom he is trying to pass off as Jerry, the lord exposes them as impostors and then expels them from his castle. Meanwhile, Jerry has also won over the hearts of the servants, whom she is drilling into a play army. One day, while on an excursion into an unused tower of the castle, they discover a locked room in which reside two skeletons. A note near one of the skeletons explains that Lord Carmichael's wife and his brother had been exploring the tower when the lock sprung and trapped them, causing their deaths. Lord Carmichael, realizing that his wife didn't betray him, has his faith in women restored and makes Jerry mistress of the castle.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

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

Jo March and her sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy live in a happy family in Concord, Massachusetts. Jo yearns to be a writer, and through the course of the years, finds much within her own family to write about.

Dir: Harley Knoles

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Little Duchess 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

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.

Dir: Harley Knoles

When untalented artist Wilfred Barsley is eager for success, he sells his soul to the devil, who first has him kill his uncle for an inheritance. Then, the devil instructs him to commit the sickly, struggling artist Paul La France to a sanitarium and exhibit Paul's paintings as his own. After doing so, Wilfred becomes an overnight modern master, while Paul, during his convalescence, loses his memory and also his sweetheart, Helen Danver, who does not know that he has been hospitalized. Then, when Helen sees one of Wilfred's paintings and recognizes it as Paul's, she bluffs an interest in the fake artist to get information about the real one. After she succeeds, she goes to Paul, and the sight of her restores his memory. Meanwhile, having returned to the vault where he had stashed his uncle's body, Wilfred dies when the door slams shut on him.