Underground Favorites Parallel to the Artistry of De Luxe Annie: Cu...

Dir: Roland West

At a reception for Mr. and Mrs. Vance Leighton, three men are discussing the effects of heredity in shaping the careers of children. To prove his contention that the theory of heredity is often demonstrated to be false, John Strong, a secret service agent, tells a true story: Two orphan sisters are adopted, one by society leaders, the other by a couple of crooks. The latter, known as "The Angel," becomes an expert pickpocket, while the other, Evelyn, becomes a reigning belle. The Angel is caught in the act by Johnson, a confidence man. Together with her adopted parents, they go to Havana, where she meets and falls in love with author Robert Ellington, Evelyn's estranged fiancé. Johnson compels her to help him swindle Ellington out of $25,000. Instead, she confesses to Ellington, and when her sister arrives she stages a love scene with Johnson to break off their relationship. Johnson, realizing that The Angel is in love, reveals to Ellington that he is a Secret Service agent. Ellington goes back to her, and they are married. To answer a skeptical listener's question whether society accepted the couple, Strong knowingly glances at the Leightons and reveals himself as the "Johnson" of the story.

Dir: Roland West

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Roland West

A masked criminal who dresses like a giant bat terrorizes the guests at an old house rented by a mystery writer.

Dir: Roland West

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

A master criminal terrorizes the occupants of an isolated country mansion.

Dir: Roland West

A stockbroker plans to liven up his boring life by taking up piracy on the high seas.

Dir: Roland West

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

After being unfaithful to "The Stranger", who committed a murder on her account, Cherry Millard, known as "The Siren", leaves to work in a dance hall in the Western town of Nugget. When Burt Hall arrives in town to deliver a will to the heirs of Bruce McClade, he is captivated by Cherry, who learns of Burt's mission. Discovering that the will dictates that Dr. Langdon, a friend of the family, is to receive $25,000, Cherry decides to impersonate Langdon's daughter Rose and thus gain possession of the money. In the meantime, The Stranger, who has been freed from jail, returns, recognizes Cherry as The Siren and kills her. This frees Burt from her evil spell, and The Stranger, now insane, follows The Siren's spirit into the desert.

Dir: Roland West

Chick Williams, a prohibition gangster, rejoins his mob soon after being released from prison. When a policeman is murdered during a robbery, he falls under suspicion. The gangster took Joan, a policeman's daughter, to the theater, sneaked out during the intermission to commit the crime, then used her to support his alibi. The detective squad employs its most sophisticated and barbaric techniques, including planting an undercover agent in the gang, to bring him to justice.

Dir: Roland West

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

Inventor Peter Marchmont has discovered a purple light that renders the user invisible. On his release from prison, Marchmont, disguised as Victor Cromport, uses the light to revenge himself against his former wife, Jewel, and her partner, James Dawson, who framed him for theft. Making himself invisible, Marchmont gradually ruins Dawson. He so wins Jewel's confidence and love that she is willing to kill Dawson at Marchmont's request. Finally, Marchmont leaves the scheming couple to their own misery and marries Jewel's sister, Ruth Marsh.

Dir: Roland West

A meek clerk who doubles as an amateur detective investigates some very strange goings-on at a remote mental sanitarium.

Dir: Roland West

A despot falls for a dancing girl. After she rejects him, he has her other beau framed for murder.