Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Defying Destiny...

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

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

Dir: Louis Chaudet

Billy simply has no use for mothers-in-law, and when his bride informs him that "mother" is coming for a visit, he digs up an excuse concerning a business trip to 'Frisco. It is only camouflage on Billy's part, for his real reason is to meet a couple of lady buyers who are sportively inclined. And that's where the complications begin. Wifey must see him off on the boat which gets his "goat," since he knows he is in for a healthy bath in swimming back to town. The bride, in the meantime, is entertained at a shady roadhouse by friendly neighbors, and Billy takes his buyers there to drink at the shrine of Bacchus. The upshot of it all is, the place is raided, and Billy finds out that his story of the sinking boat is a figment of his imagination. But mother-in-law arrives in time to restore amicable relations. And Billy finds that his prejudice hasn't a leg to stand on for she proves to be his fair companion - the buxom buyer.

Dir: Edward LeSaint

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

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

Dir: Louis Chaudet

Nancy Glenn is a pupil in Pop Hogland's school for crooks. When, attired as a boy named "Spider," Nancy fails at her lessons as a pickpocket, Pop decides to pair her with Pliny Drew, a graduate thief and swindler. Nancy rebels at her proposed partnership with Pliny, and after she is involved in an auto accident and rescued by wealthy young Ralph Harding who takes her to his home to recover, Nancy pretends to have lost her memory. Gradually, Ralph falls in love with the girl, and his mother accepts her as one of the family. However, when Pliny attempts to involve Ralph in a mining swindle, Nancy sacrifices her security and exposes the plan, thus saving her benefactor. Learning of the conditions which drove her into life at the edge of the law, Ralph forgives Nancy and they face a happy life together.

Dir: Dallas M. Fitzgerald

Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.

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

Dir: Louis Chaudet

As an infant, Ruth Drake was stolen from her father by her vengeful mother, and then abandoned. She was adopted and raised by a pawnbroker, and as a young woman joins the Salvation Army in order to help the kinds of people she has seen--and was--growing up. When war breaks out in Europe, she volunteers to go to France, and there meets a young man who has had an affair with a prominent actress. When Ruth and the man return to the US, the actress is outraged that her former boyfriend is now seeing Ruth, and sets up a scheme to frame Ruth for a robbery. However, during the trial certain facts come out that shock everyone.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

To further his political ends and enrich himself, a political boss lets corruption run rampant in his city. A young couple set out to expose him.

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

Dir: F. Martin Thornton

In Paris an orphan cartoonist loves a man with a mad wife, who dies in time to prevent her marriage to a jilted Comte.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

Orphan Hilda Swanson's prayers are answered when a Swedish-American colonization company agrees to send her to America. Aboard the steamer, she meets Olaf, a young Swede, and Donna, an enemy courier who is posing as a passenger. Learning that the secret service is on her trail, Donna sews secret documents into the hem of Hilda's skirt. She then sends a wire to her comrade Felix Martinez, notifying him to intercept the Swedish girl. Hilda and Olaf innocently evade Martinez and are sent West by representatives of the colonization company. Missing their train at a stopover in cattle country, they are taken in by Larry O'Keefe, a big-hearted rancher. Martinez finally tracks them down and arranges to have Hilda kidnapped by some Mexican cattle thieves who take the girl to their hut, only to discover that she no longer possesses the papers but has given them to O'Keefe. Hilda escapes and meets Larry who has been searching for her. Meanwhile, Donna, unaware that she is being trailed by secret service agents, arrives at the O'Keefe ranch. The agents arrest both Martinez and Donna, and as Hilda hands over the papers, the agents assure the Swedish girl that she has done a great service for her new country. Larry then offers to marry Hilda, thus making her an official American citizen.