Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of For France: Cult Guide

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

American newspaper reporter Jim Crocker's madcap escapades in London earn him notoriety and the nickname "Piccadilly Jim." When he overhears his American cousin-by-marriage, Ann Chester, giving her candid opinion of him, he decides to return to America to try to reform. He meets Ann on the boat, using another name. Unable to find work in New York, he goes to his step-aunt Mrs. Peter Pett's home to be near Ann, then helps her kidnap pampered cousin Ogden Pett, whose overindulgence has created disruption in the household. The plans fail, despite Ogden's consent to the kidnapping in return for half the ransom money, but Jim succeeds in winning Ann's affections.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

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

Charlie Everard elopes with chorus girl Mary Smith against the will of his father, and Everard, Sr., has his son shanghaied aboard a sailing vessel. Believing herself deserted, Mary joins her chorus friend, Gwen, and refuses an offer from Everard's lawyer to have the marriage annulled. Charlie returns to her but reproaches her for associating with the theater set. After the birth of their child, alone and facing poverty, she surrenders the baby to the grandparents. Three years later, however, Everard, Sr., experiences a change of heart, and mother, father, and child are united.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

Anne Winchester is acquitted in court of murdering her husband, and leaves her Nashville hometown for a small community on Long Island, NY. She moves into a boarding house and changes her name to Wharton. She soon falls for David Brinton, a widower who owns the place, and her affections are reciprocated. Alan Woodward, who is after David's daughter Julia, recognizes Anne and threatens to expose her if she tries to interfere with his pursuit of Julia, as Anne knows he is only after her money. Anne nevertheless warns Julia about Alan, but Julia refuses to listen. Anne decides that stronger measures must be taken to save the daughter of the man she loves.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

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

When newlywed Robert Ellis suspects that his missing wife is having a clandestine affair, he appeals to his friend, Pat Murphy, to find her. Pat's search leads him to the Waldorf-Astoria where he finds a woman named Edna Ellis and, assuming that she is Ellis' errant wife, kidnaps her and returns her to Ellis. Complications arise when the real Mrs. Ellis arrives home and discovers another woman. After several comic incidents, Pat falls in love with Edna and Ellis learns that his wife's secret rendezvous was with her sister.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

Anthony Campbell threatens to send his daughter, Marie, to China as punishment for her continued extravagance. She welcomes the suggestion because her sweetheart, George Holt, is planning a business trip to the Orient. When they arrive, Marie's Chinese maid, Liu Po-Yat, gives her a tiny vase to keep her from harm. However, the vase was stolen years earlier from the Manchus, China's ruling dynasty, and their pursuit of the lost treasure plunges Marie and George into danger. The young lovers are ultimately sentenced to death, and as they are being led to their execution, Marie awakens, realizes she has had a nightmare, and makes George promise that they will honeymoon anywhere except China.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

An epic of passion, intrigue, and espionage set in the African Jungle.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

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

Always follow what your heart is telling you.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

Newland Archer is engaged to May Mingott of a prominent New York family. Shortly after the engagement is announce, Newland finds himself attracted to May's older married cousin Countess Ellen Olenska.

Dir: Wesley Ruggles

Natalie Storm, a young woman struggling to support her mother and little sister through sweatshop labor, sees her mother die and her sister suffer for want of proper food and surroundings. This forces her to reject the proposal of Tom Chandler, a self-educated mining engineer who then sets out for South America to make his fortune. To save her sister, Natalie becomes the mistress of Wall Street magnate Alvin Dunning, until he publicly humiliates her and she determines to free herself. Meanwhile, Chandler returns after discovering a copper mine in South America. Invited to a party at the Dunning house, he meets Natalie as Dunning's mistress and, heartbroken, abruptly departs. Desperate by now, Natalie obtains a lucky stock tip that enables her to finally break with Dunning. Seeking her out, Dunning attempts to force her to return to him, and in a wild car ride, he is killed and Natalie severely injured. Opening her eyes after the crash, she sees Tom standing over her, and the lovers are reunited.