The Auteur's Selection In the Shadow of Eyes Right!: Cult Guide

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: Louis Chaudet

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

A young ranch hand who is suspected by his boss of stealing cattle leaves the ranch determined to capture the real offenders. While away he meets a girl with whom he falls in love. For a time the girl's brother is suspected, and later the cowboy is more strongly suspected than he was previously. But matters are straightened out, and the ranch hand and the girl decide to travel double.

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

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

Set on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1853, Captain Plum searches for the pirate who kidnapped Marion Whitley's brother.

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.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

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

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.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

Judge Grant sentences Paul Rogers to jail on circumstantial evidence, Paul's sister Lena swears revenge. A few years later, Judge Grant becomes a corporation attorney for a large firm. In collusion with the owners, Grant embezzles the firm's profits, thus forcing the value of the stock down and creating favorable conditions for a takeover. Lena, on the pretext of making an investment, meets the judge, who falls in love with her. Lena uses his infatuation to discover that the judge himself stole the money. Meanwhile, Lena has fallen in love with Tison Grant, a newspaper reporter and the judge's brother, and after they are married, she informs Tison of his brother's treachery. Tison threatens to give the story to the papers, but before he can, Paul is released from jail, kills the judge, and is wounded in the scuffle. Lena takes the blame for the killing but is freed from suspicion when Paul confesses before he dies.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

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

Kid Allen, the daughter of Mate Allen, a drunken ex-sailor, waits every night to take Mate home from a saloon. After Mate beats up saloon owner O'Keefe for trying to kiss Kid, O'Keefe kills Mate. Kid shoots and kills O'Keefe, and then leaves on a pony to get "a education," which her father wanted her to have. When she falls and sprains an ankle, Joe Emory, a sheep herder, nurses her and they fall in love, but she continues her journey. At a university town, cow puncher Nick Horton escorts her to the school, where he fights the president and some students, after being told that Kid is not ready to enter. The president stops Kid and Nick from being arrested, and puts Kid in a boarding school, but after she learns that school will last for seven years, she returns to Joe. As they kiss, they fade into a statue of Cupid embracing Psyche.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

Barr Messenger escapes to Mexico after a frame-up. He is in love with Betty Brownlee, who disappears after $10,000 is stolen from the firm she works for. It is thought she took the money. In Mexico, In Mexico, Barr finds Betty working in a saloon for "Red" McGee, the chief henchman of "Bull" Keeler's (the Kingfish) Kingfisher gang. Betty's sister is also involved.

Dir: Louis Chaudet

When a heroic rescue leaves him disfigured, Jack finds work and romance at a local bank. Betrayal forces him to flee town, but experimental surgery offers an unexpected path to justice.