Underground Favorites Parallel to the Artistry of Envy: Cult Guide

Dir: Richard Ridgely

Guido, an artist, is obsessed with the desire for the death of Clavering, a rich man who has entered into a forced marriage with Margaret, the girl whom Guido loves. The thought accompanies him in his work, his sleep and fills his every moment. One night, he awakens from a dream in which he has murdered Clavering. The next morning, Clavering is found murdered and Guido labors under the uncanny feeling that he is the murderer. Hoping to relieve Guido's fears, Margaret induces him to paint the picture of his dream. Clavering's butler sees the painting of his dead master, and is so horror stricken that he confesses to murdering Clavering for his money.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

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

Ralph Valentine and his father are musicians of proud and aristocratic ways and are so wrapped up in their art as to be oblivious of their poverty. Their faithful servant, Joseph, has been wont to withhold the threats of debtors from them, but there comes a time, shortly after the father's death, that Ralph must be told the truth. Joseph tells everything and suggests that Ralph accept money that he has saved and go to Paris, where he may show the world his art. Ralph does so and goes to live with the Gardins. His uncle Victor Valentine, wealthy and fond of gay life, invites him to live at his home provided he will leave behind his foolish dreams and fancies. Ralph refuses, preferring to remain where he is. He wins the love of Pauline Gardin and is quite content. Through his Bohemian acquaintances he meets Mme. Flora Margot. This tired, blasé young woman makes a pet of him and enraptured by her dazzling beauty he longs to satisfy her every desire. Attempting to do so, he becomes indebted to impatient creditors, who demand immediate payment or his arrest. Pauline, ignorant of his infatuation with Flora, assists him out of his present difficulties with her own savings. Realizing Flora's fast waning affection, he resolves to regain it by buying a certain antique necklace which he knows she covets. The antique dealer demands an exorbitant price which he is unable to pay. He is further disheartened when one day he finds her in the arms of his uncle, and he rushes forth intent upon suicide. About to throw himself into the river, a vision of Flora appears before him and he resolves to secure the necklace at any cost. The dealer of the antique shop is busy when he enters and Ralph wanders into a room where there are curios upon the walls and tables. Curiously examining the various articles, his hand suddenly touches a secret panel which springs back, revealing a marvelous painting of the Christ. A spiritual influence comes over him, so profound is its impression upon his mind. While awaiting the attendance of the dealer, he becomes greatly interested in a peculiar skin which has writing upon it in Sanskrit. Sitting down he becomes drowsy and falls asleep. The writing changes into English, which reads that the possessor of the skin has only to wish and his wish will be granted, but that with each desire the skin shall grow smaller and the days of the possessor grow less until death is the penalty at the last wish. The dealer approaches and Ralph is amazed to behold him now in the form of a devil. The devil asks if he desires the skin and Ralph, fearfully undecided, suddenly thinks of Flora and agrees to take it. What are his desires and his terrible anguish as the talisman grows smaller have been woven into a story of weird and mystic situations.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

The nefarious Mother Morro is a disreputable innkeeper who charges smugglers protection money. After she procures an innocent young girl for Capt. Jose's pleasure, the girl's father puts a curse on the old woman. Soon after, Morro's beloved convent reared daughter Mercedes falls in love with the lecherous Jose. To avenge her daughter's stolen innocence, Morro arranges for Amadio to kill Jose, but Mercedes overhears the plan and offers her life to save Jose's. Upon learning that her daughter's body has been thrown over the cliff, Morro becomes demented and falls to her death. On moonlit nights her ghost haunts Morro Castle.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

Story deals with Rodin, a prospector who has struck it rich after years of toiling. He comes upon the cabin of Estrella in a delirium brought on by starvation. This woman's husband has deserted her; in order to blackmail Rodin she makes him believe that in his delirium he murdered the missing man. For years Estrella bleeds Rodin. He tries in vain to establish proof of his innocence, but he is unsuccessful, and the woman keeps the upper hand. Alter some years Rodin meets Alice Carey, and a love springs up between them. Estrella reads of their engagement, and sends another blackmailing letter. Rodin calls on her to plead with her. She refuses, and in desperation he switches off the lights and locks her in a secret room, where he leaves her. Her trunk, which has been packed for a journey, he gives to an expressman. It falls off the wagon into the river. As Estrella does not appear, and the trunk is found floating in the stream, Rodin is accused of her murder. At the trial a host of evidence is brought up against him, and it seems to everyone that he is certain of being convicted. But just when the jury is about to retire the judge instructs them that no verdict of guilty can be brought, as the body has not been found. On this technicality, which comes as a complete surprise to everyone, including Rodin, the accused man is acquitted. He then goes to Alice to hear his "real sentence." She confesses that she believes him guilty of the murder. He releases her from the engagement, and goes to his home. A shot rings out in the library. The butler rushes in, to find his master dead.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

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

Eve Leslie is sent to boarding school. Proud of the fortune that has come to her she feels herself above Adam Moore, who loves her. Eugene D'Arcy, a powerful banker, who also suffers from pride and arrogance, meets Eve and wants her. In order that her pride may be further satisfied, she decides to marry a count. They elope, after eluding D'Arcy in an exciting chase, and board an ocean liner, bound for Europe. D'Arcy manages to catch the liner, as does Adam Moore, who stows away, hoping to protect her. Aboard the liner Adam manages to expose the bogus count and frustrate D'Arcy. Adam wins back his sweetheart after she has learned from bitter experience that a fall always follows pride. A fitting end comes to D'Arcy, who pays for his evil machinations that resulted from his false pride.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

Escaping from "Pride," Eve Leslie next is tempted by the sin of "Passion." Eve goes to Coney Island and there sees Leonidas, a handsome strong man who is appearing in an athletic exhibition which includes a number or diving girls. In spite of Adam Moore's protests, Eve contrives to meet Leonidas, who employs her as a member of his troupe. Leonidas is a despicable person always posing, but Eve does not realize that. She does not know, either, that Leonidas is married and that he has practically deserted his wife. Eve finds herself in rough company. She thinks she loves Leonidas and she is blind to real conditions. She surmounts one difficulty after another, she passes through a series of thrilling scenes culminating with the evening at Madison Square Garden when Leonidas defeats the world's champion wrestler in a grueling battle. Through Adam's aid, Eve, who has unconsciously got herself into a terrible predicament, is saved from herself just as she was about to marry Leonidas, who had cast off his wife.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

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

Two business partners, Bradley and Collier, are in love with Mary. Bradley gives Collier to understand that he is engaged to her, and it is this only that prevents Collier declaring his love. Lola, a young Italian girl whom Bradley has betrayed, comes to the office to beg him to marry her. Mary hears the girl's plea, and comes into the office. Here she sees Collier talking to the girl. He has come, not knowing the situation, and Bradley has slipped out another door. Mary believes that Collier is the guilty man, and refuses to speak to him. Bradley encourages her in this idea and begs her to marry him. Collier, heartbroken, has left for the west, in order to recover his lost spirits. Bradley has a fake telegram sent to him announcing Collier's death, for he knows that he has no chance with Mary as long as his rival is alive. After some time Mary marries him. But almost immediately afterward she meets Lola, who is dying in a hospital. Lola begs her to care for Bradley's child, and she learns too late that her husband deceived her. She returns and denounces him. He, knowing that the scandal is sure to get out, orders her to prepare for a trip to Europe. He sells his, as well as Collier's, share in the company. Lola's father, crazed by his daughter's death, comes to Bradley's office and sneaks in through the basement window. The next day Bradley is found dead. Tony is arrested. Collier returns and meets Mary. Together they go to the police and ask for the release of Tony. Collier tells of his arrival the night before and his knowledge of the sale of the company. He went to confront Bradley, and they struggled. Bradley drew a revolver, which went off in his hand, killing him. Collier had tried to make the case look like suicide, until he learned that Tony was being held. The police assure Collier that his innocence will be easily established, and he and Mary face the future with the knowledge that a long-deferred happiness will be theirs.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

Meg lived down in Carolina in the shadow of the great Blue Ridge. When she had been a little younger she had been winsomely and strangely beautiful, a gypsy-like elf of the woods and forests. Now, she is mad. The neighbors said cruel things about Meg and turned their faces aside when she passed. And from her little son, they shrank, and turned away as from a thing accursed. When Hugh Gregory opened a store in the little mountain town and fell in love with the widowed Darthea Westerly, he incurred the bitter hatred of Simon Grant, who had long courted Darthea. When Meg's little son ran away, and Gregory found him, and gave him back to his mother, the crazed woman thought she recognized in him the father of her boy. When she returned home she told her brother that she had found her child's father. The brother, infuriated, confronted Gregory, and demanded that he marry his sister. Gregory, naturally, refused indignantly. Simon Grant met Jake, Meg's brother, while he was still half insane with rage over Gregory's refusal, and found him in a willing mood to listen to Simon's scheme. The next day, as Gregory and the colonel were riding together, Jake, egged on by Simon, fired at them from a barn. Gregory proved himself a good Samaritan by saving Jake from the infuriated mob which thirsted for his life. Meanwhile. Darthea, who had fallen in love with Gregory, learned of Meg's terrible accusation against him. The story naturally changed her feelings toward the man, particularly when Gregory, realizing the futility of argument, refused to say a word in his own defense. Then suddenly Meg came upon Simon Grant, and with a miraculous flash of understanding, remembered that he, not Gregory, was the man. But with the passing of her madness, Meg's life fluttered and went out like a candle in the wind, but not before she had told Gregory and Darthea the truth.

Dir: Richard Ridgely

Young Hester is kidnapped in India by revolutionaries. As she grows up she becomes one of them, and is sent to England to recover a holy ruby taken from India by her father, Sir Christopher Radwick. However, she falls in love with the manager of her father's estate, and gives up her revolutionary activities. The revolutionaries aren't the forgiving types, however, and follow her to England. When Hester's father dies and is found to have been poisoned, Hester is accused of the crime.