Essential Cult Cinema Drawn from the Same DNA as Darkest Russia: Cu...

Dir: Travers Vale

During a raid on a gambling establishment run by her father, Cosmo Lester, Diana Lester rescues Hugh Carton, a member of the English Parliament and a candidate for the Cabinet. Hugh gratefully offers Diana a position as his sister's companion, and soon, the two fall desperately in love. Diana's happiness is threatened, however, when she learns that Hugh is married to a woman who will neither live with him nor divorce him. Diana becomes Hugh's mistress for a time, but his afternoon visits with her cause him to neglect his work. To save Hugh's career, his sister urges Diana to leave him, whereupon the unhappy girl returns to her father. She eventually accepts the marriage proposal of her old friend, Phil Duran, but before the wedding, she suffers a breakdown. When Hugh visits her with the news that his wife has granted him a divorce, however, she regains her health and good spirits, and is joined to the man she loves.

Dir: Travers Vale

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

The Grand Duke Alexis has been happy with his wife, Lola, formerly the queen of the St. Petersburg ballet, and their baby daughter, Vasta. But the lowering cloud that has always hung over them through the refusal of the Russian Court to recognize their marriage breaks when the Duke learns there is an intrigue against his wife's life. She makes her escape at midnight and, powerless to do anything, Alexis is forced to see his wife pass out of his life. The baby is given to Marta Antonovitch, in charge of the girls at the Imperial Ballet School. Years later Vasta is the most apt pupil at the school. Her father comes to see her often and is deeply affected by her resemblance to her mother. The relationship is kept secret, but when he is ordered to the south for his health he gives last instructions that she be well cared for. Michael Pavloff, the impresario for the Russian Ballet, who has discovered the duke's secret, goes to the school to choose the dancers to be sent by the government to Paris. He takes a liking to Vasta, but Marta refuses to allow the girl to go when he chooses her for deportation. The girl frets over the refusal, disguises herself as a boy and changes places with a youth who had not wanted to go. In Paris Lola, despite the sorrow of the changing years, holds sway over men's hearts. Pavloff is an ardent admirer of hers, but lately he has been thinking more of Vasta. Richard Moraino, a young artist commissioned to paint the portraits of the Russian Ballet, is attracted by Vasta. Their courtship progresses and one afternoon while they are having tea together, Lola and Pavloff are seated at the next table. Both women feel an interest in the other and Lola is startled when Pavloff tells her he has discovered she is the daughter of the Grand Duke Alexis and that he intends to get her for his own. One night during the performance the electrician is killed and the stage darkened. When the lights are turned on again they discover Vasta has disappeared. Pavloff has taken the girl and locks her in his apartment. To divert suspicion he gives a dinner party. During the revelry Lola, who is a member of the party hears a half-smothered cry and, guided by it cornea to the locked door behind which Vasta is concealed. She stays until the last guest has departed and then appeals to the liquor-dazed Pavloff, She secures the key to the room and hurries back, cautioning Vasta to make haste, but Pavloff comes upon them and seizes Vasta in his arms. Lola then shoots him. Then Lola reveals her identity. Alexis, who is passing through Paris, stops to see Pavloff. He discovers Lola and the dead man and accuses her of having been his mistress, but when Vasta comes forward and tells all, Alexis begs her forgiveness. He says he will take the responsibility of the killing knowing he will be vindicated when he says it was to save the honor of his wife. Richard and Vasta are once more brought together and Alexis asks his wife if she is willing to brave the Russian Court with him after all these years. Her happy smile is sufficient answer.

Dir: Travers Vale

When a Southern belle chooses one suitor over another, the loser plots revenge on his rival by causing him to desert the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Dir: Travers Vale

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

Sally McGill, a little Irish girl, brought up in a particularly sordid section, is compelled to work to support her entire family. Ben Blaney, the young foreman where she works, loves little Sally. Mrs. Rockwell, wealthy and childless, finds joy in taking a limited number of the poorest children to her country home each summer, and she selects those whom she will take. While visiting the lower East Side, which is distinguished by the name of "Pigtail Alley," she meets Sally and impulsively asks her to go along to earn her board and keep by caring for and helping with the children. Sally is overjoyed. Ben Blaney, however, proposes to Sally and is rejected. Mrs. Rockwell's niece, Isabelle, is jealous of Sally and takes a violent dislike to her. Sally's ambition is to become a refined lady like those about her, and she is attracted to Paul Taylor, but knows she is inferior to him. Isabelle succeeds in having Sally discharged. She then goes to work in a millinery store where she has opportunities to learn the refined ways she so admires, and joins a library to study on this subject. Mrs. Rockwell, in need of a maid, seeks little Sally out and offers her the position, and she again meets Paul, who proposes to her on her way home one evening, but she, realizing the great social gulf between them, does not consent and tells him he must never see her again. She leaves Mrs. Rockwell's employment to become an artist's model and because she pledged Mrs. Rockwell to secrecy about her new address, Paul goes to her mother, who, believing there is a possibility of a rich marriage, gives him Sally's address. Paul waits for Sally and escorts her home, standing in the doorway for a chat. Ben sees them just as Paul is embracing Sally and in a rage strikes Paul down. Later, when Ben learns that Paul has asked for Sally in marriage, he tells Sally that they are not made of the same clay, and that she has outgrown "Pigtail Alley," and he hopes that she will be happy with Paul. She goes to Paul and he holds her in his arms and finishes the sentence he started in the hallway, which Ben interrupted, "When do we start for South America?"

Dir: Travers Vale

When Aline Marsden learns that her husband Phil has been flirting with musical-comedy actress Bernice De Armond, she and her uncle, Pop Moore, compel him to sign a contract that gives each of them complete marital freedom for three months. Aline then travels to Palm Beach, Florida, accompanied by Pop and her sister, Jess Alden, while Phil remains in the North with Bernice. In Florida, Aline engages in a flirtation with Phil's old college friend, Wayne Annis, and when her husband, now weary of Bernice, comes to Florida, she gives him a chilly reception. Wayne, who has fallen in love with Jess, agrees to help Pop effect the married couple's reconciliation by arousing Phil's jealousy. The plan works so well, however, that the enraged husband nearly shoots his old friend. In the end, the friendship is preserved, Aline and Phil are reunited, and Wayne professes his love for Jess.

Dir: Travers Vale

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Sally in Our Alley perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

After John Cuddlestone, an officer in the Queen's regiment, is accused by his brother Andrew of cheating at cards, he leaves England in humiliation. In India, he marries a Hindu woman, but shortly after their son is born, John is killed in a tiger hunt. Young Lorin is placed in the care of Buddhist priests, and on his twenty-first birthday, he is released from the temple and given his father's papers. Learning of John's disgrace, Lorin is filled with the desire for revenge and immediately sets out for England. Nan, a girl whom he saved from slavery, resolves to follow the man she loves and steals the sacred eye of Buddha, a precious gem, to pay for her passage. In England, Lorin earns renown in society circles as a swami. One of his clients is Andrew's ward, Lady Elsie Drillingcourt, whose fortune Andrew is rapidly squandering. Lorin catches his uncle cheating at cards, and when the old man realizes the swami's identity, he dies of shock. Lady Elsie recovers her money, while Nan, who has been pursued by angry Buddhist priests, returns the sacred gem and then journeys back to India as Lorin's wife.

Dir: Travers Vale

Ralph Semple already has a wife, but marries rich Beatrice Raymond, and then deserts her after cheating her out of $10,000. Later, when Beatrice hears that Ralph has died, she marries Jerry Trainer, a widower, but keeps her past a secret. Ralph, who started the rumors of his own death, then returns to blackmail Beatrice, who is determined to keep Jerry from finding out about her first marriage. Meanwhile, Ralph makes plans to elope with Jerry's daughter Edith, but when Beatrice learns of the impending wedding, she decides to stop it, and so goes to see Ralph in his apartment. Jerry walks in on them, however, and assuming that they are secret lovers, he throws Ralph out and denounces Beatrice. When Edith arrives at Ralph's, however, Jerry realizes that his wife was only trying to save his daughter, and so he and Beatrice are reconciled immediately.

Dir: Travers Vale

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

When lawyer Philip Wentworth goes hunting in the woods to escape a broken heart, he meets and later marries Joan Travers. Philip brings Joan to the city, but soon deserts her to resume an affair with his old flame, who is now married. Some months later, Joan dies of grief, leaving her baby daughter, also named Joan, to be raised by a pawnbroker and his wife. Eventually Philip helps his mistress to obtain a divorce and then marries her. Her son, Norman Dicks, flunks out of college, prompting Philip to send him into the Navy. Before he ships out, however, he meets and secretly marries Joan, who has grown to womanhood. Some time later, Joan is accused of murder after their baby dies because she was unable to care for it. She is taken before Judge Wentworth, who recognizes her as his daughter by the cross she wears around her neck. Norman returns home and the family is reunited.

Dir: Travers Vale

Betty Fairchild decides to follow the advice of her mother and marry for money. Thus, when Tom Connolly arrives from the West with his fortune, she accepts his proposal even though she does not love him. The idealistic Tom is completely disillusioned when he learns why his wife married him and promptly leaves her. Rupert Brantley, a wealthy cad, seizes this opportunity to win Betty, but she gradually realizes that she has been wrong and repulses him. One day a letter from Tom's mother arrives and Betty innocently opens it. It contains letters and a photograph of a man who betrayed Tom's sister, with a plea to Tom to avenge the family. Recognizing the man as Brantley, Betty rushes to his apartment to warn him and thus prevent her husband from becoming a murderer, but Tom follows her and accuses her of infidelity. To prevent a fight, Betty remains silent. When she returns home, however, she shows Tom his mother's letter, which leads to a reconciliation between them.

Dir: Travers Vale

On the promise of marriage, Sylvia Smith, a simple girl from Lone Meadows, follows her lover to the city only to discover that he already has a wife. While wandering along the docks, Sylvia stumbles onto a suicide note written by Fitzhugh Castleton, a wealthy gentleman who has planted the note to avoid a loveless marriage. Rather than go back to Lone Meadows humiliated, Sylvia pays Crosby, a convicted forger, to impersonate Castleton, forge his name in a marriage ceremony, then disappear. Once Sylvia installs herself in the Castleton mansion, Castleton returns from a sea voyage and, disguised by a long beard, hires on as the gardener. Castleton soon becomes enamored of the impostor widow and she falls in love with him, but neither one will admit his deception to the other. When Crosby shows up and demands blackmail money, Sylvia slips away to the country. Through the jealous interference of Crosby's wife, Castleton discovers the truth about Sylvia and goes to Lone Meadows to marry her.