The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of Diplomacy: Cult Guide

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Aaron Strong is a seafaring man. Not only has he won an honest living as the captain of a sailing vessel, but he is unusually happy in the love of his young wife, Maybelle. When Aaron Strong embarks on his voyages, Sandy Hodge, his wife's father, an old sea salt of Scottish descent, cares for Maybelle. A terrific storm occurs at sea and Aaron's frail craft is smashed to pieces. He tries to save himself by escaping in a dory, but he finally succumbs after scrawling a note to his wife. Later the little boat is washed ashore with his lifeless body. It is found by some fisherman, and when Maybelle is informed of her husband's death she falls unconscious to the floor knocking a lamp over which burns her hand. Months following when her two children are born, a boy and a girl, each bears a red mark on his hand, similar to the one on their mother's hand which was caused by the falling lamp. Maybelle never recovers from the shock of her husband's death, and she soon dies. The two children are left to the care of old Sandy. Although he secretly loves the little chap who so resembles Sandy's beloved daughter, yet when the boy runs away from home, old Sandy is not at all conscience stricken. The boy falls in with a gang of toughs and has become known as "Red Hand" leader of a gang of crooks. Fourteen years later, Maybelle Strong, Joe's twin sister, teaches a little school in Oceancove. Old Sandy never talks to her of her brother, whom she has almost forgotten, but the old Scotch grandfather insists that Maybelle bring home to him her pay envelope, for Sandy is thrifty. In the city there is a rivalry among the "gun men" and Sid Aldrich, gang leader, gambler and crook, flees the city. He arrives at Oceancove seeking seclusion. There he meets Maybelle Strong, who learns to love the stranger. Aldrich plots to entice Maybelle to the city. Chided by the irate Sandy because she has expended a small amount of her earnings for a new hat, Maybelle promises to go with Aldrich upon his agreement to marry her when they reach the city. "Boss" Kipper, a ward politician, is introduced to Maybelle by Aldrich, who poses as Kipper's nephew. Kipper is immediately attracted to the girl. Summoned hurriedly from the room, through the instrumentality of Fate, Kipper places the now unconscious Maybelle into the keeping of Joe Strong, alias "Red Hand," who is one of "Boss" Kipper's strongest followers. While watching over the girl, "Red Hand" espies the birthmark on her hand; he also glances at the birthmark on his own hand. He has a vague memory of a little sister, marked like himself through a mother's suffering. His better nature comes to the front, and he resolves to save the girl at any cost. "Boss" Kipper returns to the room. He finds the door locked and barred. He orders his henchmen to shatter it. In the meantime Joe Strong runs to the telephone, summons the police and the girl is rescued just in time. The "Boss" vows revenge on Joe Strong. Strong has been endeavoring to live straight since he rescued Maybelle, and his girl friend, Mame of the tenements, in ill health, has received all of Joe's attention. He is informed that the girl must be sent to a sanitarium for treatment if her life would be saved. Kipper plots with Aldrich, the gambler. Joe is tempted to rob a home. He finds there Aldrich confronting Maybelle, whom Joe had so recently saved. Joe takes the life of the unscrupulous gambler, and tells Maybelle to claim that she shot the man in self-defense. Joe escapes the house and joins the girl of the tenements whom he loves, and who is awaiting him at the boat landing. As he buys his transportation, Joe comes face to face with Detective Treem. Joe believes all is lost. The detective, however, believing that the death of Aldrich was for the good of mankind, and appreciating that Joe has been the victim of a frame-up, tells him to "beat it," and Joe Strong and his girl sail away from the city and all its wickedness.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Amarilly comes from a large family in a working-class neighborhood. She is happy with her family and her boyfriend Terry, a bartender in a cafe. But one day she meets Gordon, a sculptor who comes from a rich family, and she begins to be drawn into the world of the upper class.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

An artist in England is torn between an old flame and his now-adult adopted daughter.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Three men, disillusioned in love and intent on getting away from all women, rent a cabin and retreat there. But the young woman who owns the cabin, unaware that it has been rented, is on her way there to escape from an unhappy engagement.

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

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Wealthy orphan Jean Hilton is in love with Jimmie Dexter, with whose mother she lives. Mrs. Dexter is about to send her son to college when she loses her small income, so Jean induces Mrs. Dexter to accept money from her guardian, Squire Padgate, and Jimmie goes off to school. There he meets young cabaret singer Diana Parish, becomes infatuated with her, and writes her a check for $25. Diana adds another zero to the amount and the check bounces due to insufficient funds. As Diana implores Jimmie to save her, Mrs. Dexter and Jean arrive and inform him that he has been squandering Jean's money. Enraged at being treated like a child, Jimmie vows to make it on his own. After working at hard physical labor, Jimmie returns home and all is forgiven.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Jane Colby, doubting the honesty of Harvey Wilson, a member of the firm by which she is employed, discovers a discrepancy in his accounts, and his resignation is therefore requested by Edward Royle. his partner. Both these men are interested in Edith Preston. Wilson is her favorite, the fact that he is married having been kept from her. She accepts Royle's proposal of marriage. Wilson, revengeful, plans with David Pierce to effect Royle's financial ruin. Jane has saved nearly $10,000 with which to purchase a home. She is daily becoming of more value to her employer, and discovering that the stock in which he is interested is going down, and unable to reach Royle, forges his signature to a check and buys "Consolidated." Wilson learns that Jane has pulled Royle out of the hole and works through Edith to obtain her discharge. Royle quickly finds out how little he really knows of his own business and puts Jane back to work. Believing Jane out of the way, Wilson and Pierce are confident they can "clean" Royle and make a fortune for themselves. Jane learns it will take $10,000 more to make Royle safe, and buys the stock with her own money. Edith has refused to help Royle, forbidding him to touch her jewels. She leaves Royle and goes to Wilson's apartment, leaving a note for her husband. The latter learns from the chauffeur where she has gone and follows. Fearing trouble. Jane also goes to Wilson's apartment and hides Edith as Royle rushes in. He accuses her of also being under Wilson's spell and reveals the fact that he is married. Edith hears this, and mad with rage, bursts into the room, puts her arms around her husband, who repulses her. Wilson also states he wants nothing more to do with her. At the office Jane shows Royle a news item about a big foreign order which revives the stock, but he believes it has come too late. As Jane reveals to him how she has saved him, he tells her that she is no longer a silent partner, but a full partner, and the love which has never before been expressed lights up both their faces.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Three Men and a Girl perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Two young women - a paraplegic girl sheltered by her wealthy guardians and a more experienced orphan - fall in love with a man separated from his violent wife.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

A Belgian countess escapes to America to avoid a loveless marriage and finds romance and adventure in a mountain village in Tennessee.

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

Dir: Marshall Neilan

A bartender named Holiday is a teetotaler, and decides to preach his new belief in abstinence to all the world, until there is no one left who drinks.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

An orphan discovers that she has an anonymous benefactor who is willing to pay her college tuition, unaware he's the same man who has been romantically pursuing her.