Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as Cleopatra: Cult Guide

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Lolette (Theda Bara), an exotic and spirited peasant girl lives In the small Spanish village of Juanguera. Although ardently courted by the native swains, and particularly a bandit called The Tiger, Lolette prefers Maurice Tabor, a French artist who has come to Juanguera to paint. Because he refuses to take her to Paris, Lolette accepts a gift of stolen jewels from The Tiger and follows Maurice to France. With Lolette as his model, Maurice paints brilliantly, and soon she becomes a Paris sensation. One evening, Lolette performs a Spanish dance on stage, and the next day, she signs contracts with a number of impresarios, accepting advance payment from all of them. Fearing her arrest, Maurice urges her to accompany him back to Spain, but The Tiger attacks their coach and imprisons them. At a feast held in her honor, however, Lolette urges The Tiger to drink, and when he is unconscious, she and Maurice escape.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

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

Maria Valverde, a young Spanish woman whose father has settled in the Philippines, arrives home from the convent where she received her education and is soon approached by Diablo Ramirez, a local plantation overseer who hopes to win her heart. Having met the handsome American army captain, Paul Winter, in Manila, Maria scorns Diablo's advances, and later, he is forcefully escorted from the house. Furious, Diablo organizes a group of rebels, who kill Maria's father and hold her a prisoner in her own home. When Captain Winter hears of the revolt, he rushes to Maria's aid but is himself captured. Reinforcements soon arrive from the American army post, and in the fighting, the house is set ablaze. Diablo is about to grab Maria when Captain Winter enters and shoots the rebel down. The Americans finally emerge victorious, and Maria wins her dashing captain.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Du Barry attracts the attention of the King of France as he rides through the streets. A meeting follows, she losing her garter and the King his heart. Installed at court, Du Barry holds the King's favor in spite of her love for a soldier. The King dies and Du Barry plans to wed her soldier sweetheart, but she falls a victim of the Revolution.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

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

Elsie Drummond, the "Vixen," a spoiled nymphomaniac, takes pleasure in wreaking havoc on her sweet sister Helen. When Helen becomes enamored of Martin Stevens, a Wall Street businessman, Elsie turns on her considerable charms and woos him away. After Charlie Drummond, Elsie's shiftless brother, steals from Stevens and causes a scandal, Stevens is ruined financially and Elsie promptly leaves him. Through deliberate manipulation, Elsie then steals Knowles Murray, a young statesman, from Helen and succeeds in marrying him. Elsie and Murray move to Paris, forcing Helen to care for their alcoholic father. Six years later, Murray is called to Washington, D.C. and Elsie, now the mother of two children, renews her acquaintance with Martin Stevens, who has regained his wealth and position. As Murray is about to catch Elsie in Stevens' arms, Helen, to protect the children, supplies Elsie with an escape and an alibi. While Elsie continues in her deceptive ways, Stevens, finally wise to the Vixen, marries Helen.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

A young Frenchman kills his best friend in a drunken fight. He vows to never touch another drop of liquor, but he goes back to the bottle when he hooks up with seductive Blanche Le Noir, and is soon an alcoholic. Blanche, however, prefers the sinister Lantier, and tries to use Lantier's daughter to get to him. However, the daughter is saved by the efforts of young American RIchard Lee, who marries her. Unfortunately, Lee's sister is seduced by Lantier. Complications ensue.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

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

A gypsy girl with her foster-mother arrive in the French Capital where her beauty attracts the attention of the Apaches, and she becomes a member of their band. Her beauty attracts Claude Frallo, a scientist of note. She repulses him, as she has already fallen in love with Captain Phoebus. During a visit of the gypsy girl in the apartment of the handsome captain, Frallo kills the captain and makes his escape. Upon the arrival of the Gendarmes, Esmaralda is placed under arrest charged with the murder. Esmaralda is subjected to torture to make her confess, but is defiant, knowing that she is innocent. The bell ringer of the cathedral, Quasimodo, who secretly worships the Gypsy girl, becomes her protector. When Frallo visits the prisoner the bell ringer interferes. There is a struggle and the former is hurled from a parapet and killed. Again the girl appears before the tribunal. Put on the rack, she admits the murder of the captain. Just as Esmaralda is to be guillotined, the bell ringer gives the true version of the murder, implicating Frallo whom he killed. Quasimodo, the plucky bell ringer, who was Esmaralda's protector, and her liberator, becomes her husband.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Jess takes care of her younger sister Bess, she has always been her primary consideration, since the death of her mother. Years later, the two sisters are living with their uncle on his plantation in Puerto Rico when they meet John Neil, who immediately falls in love with Jess. Upon realizing that Bess is in love with the same man, Jess sacrifices her own happiness for that of her sister. Soon after, Drummond, a corrupt planter, starts a revolution against the United States government, and in the ensuing war the plantation and all its inhabitants are captured. Jess escapes and rides to the American garrison for aid, but during the fight she is mortally wounded. Her dying words are a blessing upon Neil and her sister Bess.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

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

After squandering his entire estate, Roy Schuyler is forced by his creditors to marry wealthy Laura Reid. Her half-sister Ann tries to warn her of Roy's motives, but is kidnapped by Roy and incarcerated in an asylum before she can. Roy then tries to force Laura to sign a document which would accord him control of her estate. When she refuses, Roy, with the aid of Dassori, a traitor from Italy, brings Ann and Laura together. Ann dies and Laura, who closely resembles her, is placed in the asylum in her stead. Laura is finally saved when her cousin Marion bribes a nurse to allow her to escape and Dassori, with moments to live, confesses his part in the crime, thus establishing Laura's true identity. Justice is then served when Roy is driven to his death by his tortured conscience.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Bara is unusually cast as a nearly virginal nurse and actress. She does manage to get one man to blow his brains out before she reforms and marries an Episcopal priest.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Bavahari, a half caste Indian girl, renounces her oath as a sacred dancer to the worship of Buddha. The High Priest, who secretly loves the girl, is enraged and vows vengeance. Bavahari marries an English army officer, and they move to Paris where she becomes a sensation as a dancer. After she deserts her husband, he kills himself at her feet. The High Priest, discovering that Bavahari is in Paris, announces his presence by marking the "Sign of Death" on her dressing room door. He then disguises himself as a Buddha idol. As Bavahari dances on stage, the High Priest kills her in front of the audience.