Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Clover's Rebellion: Cult Guide

Dir: Wilfrid North

Lily Upjohn leaves the London slums after her father dies and becomes a chorus girl at the Pandora Theatre. When a scene painter drops some paint from a scaffold, Lily's screams prompt the show's composer to create a hit song entitled "Mind the Paint Girl," which warns men about made-up actresses. After Lily becomes an overnight sensation singing the song, she is courted by Nicholas Jeyes, a young officer who gives up his commission so he can remain near her, and by Lord Francombe. Jeyes' increasing jealousy causes Lily to become distant, which further intensifies his degeneration. After Jeyes bursts into Lily's birthday celebration and discovers her embracing Francombe, who has just proposed, Jeyes' anguished tale of his ruin due to being dangled by Lily, moves her to promise him marriage, but at the end, Jeyes and Francombe become friends and neither marries Lily.

Dir: Wilfrid North

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

The Kid, a sprightly young girl of seventeen, is overjoyed at receiving an appointment on the staff of the New York Herald, through the influence of Joe Hazard, the star reporter, who has brought her up as his daughter. To arm properly for the battle of life, Joe tells her the story of how her mother's downfall was brought about. Her mother, he tells her, was betrayed by a man named Dunster in her home town. Joe had befriended her and when her child (the Kid) was born, and the mother died and Joe had decided to bring the child up himself. With a final warning to beware the pitfalls of the city, Joe takes her to the Herald office to begin her career. Soon after, when the price of meat shows an alarming rise, the Herald assigns the Kid to unearth the cause. While on the hunt for particulars, the Kid sees Robinson, one of the large cattle owners of the west, who has come to this city for a business trip. She follows him. waits while he has his shoes shined and then, when turning a corner, loses him in the crowd. Hurrying home, she assumes the disguise of a bootblack and obtains a position at the stand where she left Robinson. True to her expectations, Robinson appears that day, and while shining his shoes she obtains a clue. That day, Robinson's wife, a charity worker, is murdered while riding in her car, and the murderer makes his escape. Sometime later, the Kid manages to obtain a position in the office of Robinson and secures evidence which connects her employer not only with the manipulation of the meat market, but also with the murder of his wife. She arranges to have two detectives hide in the room next day to get further evidence of his connection with the murder, but they overhear a conversation which convinces them that Hidalgo, manager of Robinson's cattle enterprises, is the real murderer and he is taken into custody. The Kid obtains a warrant for Robinson for his connection with the rise in meat, but Joe Hazard, recognizing Robinson, tells the Kid that he is her own father, Dunster, under an assumed name. Dunster also learns that the Kid is his daughter and begs leniency. She finally secures his freedom, but when he comes to claim a daughter's love, she turns to Joe, who has been her "Daddy" for all these years.

Dir: Wilfrid North

After the sinking of the Lusitania, American James Garrison "Garry" Owen joins the British army and fights gallantly until he is wounded and subsequently discharged. Recuperating in New York, he meets and falls in love with Helen Lloyd, and the two plan to be married after his return from active duty with the American forces in France. Helen's brother Albert, fighting in France under Garry's command, panics and deserts his post, and Garry is forced to report him. At the court-martial, Albert is sentenced to death, but when Company D is attacked, his heroic actions save the day and he dies a hero. Meanwhile, Helen is abducted by German officer Friederich von Emden, whose submarine transports her to his headquarters: Madame Arnot's chateau in Belgium. Von Emden captures Garry and orders him to attend a banquet celebrating the German's forced marriage to Helen, but an old servant named Sonia poisons most of the German guests. Garry kills von Emden, then escapes with Helen to the Allied lines.

Dir: Wilfrid North

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

Rex Radcliffe, vice president of the Northern Atlantic Railroad, is opposed by company president William Harding in his desire to put over a deal that would jeopardize the stockholders of the Interstate Railroad. Using thought control, he causes Weer, Harding's discharged secretary, to murder his ex-boss. Weer is arrested for the murder. Radcliffe then puts Harding's daughter, Helen, also under his influence. John Bonham, Interstate president, becomes interested in the case, and with the aid of Mrs. Weer he exposes Radcliffe, who then commits suicide.

Dir: Wilfrid North

Leslie Brennan, an heiress, suddenly discovers that she is almost penniless, and faces the ordeal of making her own living. Before learning this condition of affairs she had become dazzled by the society manners of a cold-hearted fortune hunter, but becomes disillusioned when she discovers that he is attracted solely by her supposed wealth, and goes at once to earn her livelihood in the City of New York. There she studies typing and makes friends among the lowly. She secures a position with a brusque preoccupied young chemist, who is in the midst of a great discovery of value to the government. How Leslie becomes aware of the machinations of a foreign spy, how she saves her young employer's secret to the government in a series of encounters and how she comes to learn that he has fallen in love with her and that he is one who is really worthy of her, is told in a series of compelling scenes.

Dir: Wilfrid North

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

Amos Brandt is a miser, but his children don't know that he's actually very wealthy. His daughter Lola has been proposed to by both wealthy Richard Denton and not-so-wealthy George Gray, and decides to choose love over money and accepts Gray's proposal. Denton then invests in a company that defrauds the public, and just as he's facing criminal charges and bankruptcy, he learns of Amos' real wealth and decides to rob him. However, things don't go quite the way he planned.

Dir: Wilfrid North

Marcellus Holloway, a rich widower, buries himself among his books and allows his only daughter, Penelope, to bring herself up. At the age of eighteen she was courageous and self-reliant, also self-willed and independent, with a disregard for the restraints of convention. She caused gossip by fishing on Sunday and galloping wildly about on her colt. An old friend, Mrs. Travers, and her son, Jimmy, visit them. Jimmy and Penelope become friendly. Mrs. Travers induces the father to allow Penelope to enter a fashionable boarding school with her daughter. Marjorie. At the school Penelope's behavior is not as dignified as it should be. Her father dies and Penelope refuses to see her friends or return to school. Jimmy finally persuades her to come and make his mother a visit. She goes and at a party in her honor meets Mr. and Mrs. Rivers and enjoys Rivers' company, causing his wife much anger. At the golf club she continues flirting and Jimmy remonstrates with her without success. Mrs. Rivers puts detectives on her husband's trail and they follow Rivers and Penelope to a roadhouse. On the way Jimmy joins them. They arrive just as Rivers is beginning to show his real self to Penelope and she faints. The detectives take Rivers away, while Jimmy goes to Penelope. Mrs. Rivers starts a divorce suit, naming Penelope as a co-respondent. Penelope goes to Mrs. Rivers and pleads with her. Mrs. Rivers sees she is innocent and returns with her to the Travers' home, where Jimmy takes her into his arms.

Dir: Wilfrid North

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

Jack Duncan returns from the war in France to his wife and baby and learns that his job as a draftsman at the Loring Steel Mills has been taken. Given work in the machine shop, Jack becomes the prey of Red agitators who want him because of his popularity with soldiers. The Reds cause Jack's discharge just when his house payments come due, and when they convince him of the injustice of his situation, he joins their ranks. After learning of plans to burn the factory and Loring's home, and start a riot in the town, Jack is won over by a socialist's arguments advocating mild reforms. At a meeting of workingmen, Jack praises Americanism. He warns Loring and, with soldiers at a nearby camp, quells the riot. After a woman agitator kills her comrades and then shoots herself, Jack arrives home to save his wife from an attack by a Red ringleader. Jack is then made a foreman at the mill.

Dir: Wilfrid North

Having lost all his funds betting on the races in London, John Peters contemplates suicide; then, overhearing the conversation of two men, he considers a new course of action. He stuns one of them--Kluck--and after changing clothes with him, he makes his way to the United States, where he wins at the races, speculates successfully on Wall Street, and amasses a fortune under the sobriquet "Lucky" Carson. Kluck arrives in America, makes Carson's acquaintance, and begs for his help, which is freely given. Carson manages to retrieve some incriminating correspondence between Kluck and an adventuress, Madame Marinoff, who is threatening him. Kluck accuses him of a conspiracy, and a quarrel ensues when Carson reveals his true identity; but Doris Bancroft, Kluck's sister-in-law, discovers that he is innocent.

Dir: Wilfrid North

The Earl of Clanranald, obliged against his will to attend a meeting of conspirators against King James (II) of England, is arrested. His death warrant is signed by the King and dispatched to Edinburgh by Sir Harry Richmond of the King's Bodyguard. Lady Katherine, the Earl's daughter, dresses up as a highwayman meets and later holds up the King's messenger. She receives a sword wound in her shoulder, but secures the warrant and burns it. Upon hearing her story, Sir Harry promises to do all in his power to secure the release of Lady Katherine's father.