The Auteur's Selection In the Shadow of Free Love: Cult Guide

Dir: Unknown Director

The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.

Dir: Hobart Henley

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

Martin Ross and his East Indian servant Sima poison Mrs. Dean, whose money and pearls are left to her little daughter Elsie. Ross, the executor of the estate, spends all of the money with the willing assistance of seductress Fanette, but manages to retain the priceless pearls. When Elsie reaches the age of 18, she learns that she is penniless and formulates a plan to retrieve the jewels with the aid of her boyfriend William Gavin, Jr. Posing as seer "Madame Rama," Elsie sets Ross against Fanette, who has taken the pearls from their hiding place. When he confronts Fanette, she kills him and frames William for the crime. William is arrested, but "Madame Rama" tricks Fanette into confessing her guilt in the presence of several detectives. With Fanette and Sima behind bars, the pearls are restored to Elsie, who starts a new life with William.

Dir: Hobart Henley

Morris, a hardened criminal, is imprisoned for larceny and has engaged William Newman, a police court lawyer, to defend him. As recompense, Morris gives Newman his vest in which are sewed four valuable diamonds. Newman is attracted by a girl who slaves for the proprietress of his boarding house. Georgianna, who is afraid of Newman, is arrested for the theft of several cheap rings belonging to the proprietress, which have been mislaid. While in prison Newman promises to pay her bail, if she is willing to meet his advances. Newman cuts the diamonds from the vest, as he is determined to get away with all instead of one, according to the agreement. The new hole in the vest is discovered, and Morris is brought before the chief. The two are left alone and Morris hits the chief and disappears through the window. Georgianna's case is dismissed, but she thinks Newman is responsible for her being set free. On arriving at his rooms a fierce struggle ensues. A knock is heard and she is told to hide behind the couch. Morris enters the room and shoots Newman, who falls dead. Georgianna is held for the murder, Morris having escaped into the room adjoining Newman's, in which McHugh, a newspaper reporter, is dressing. Willy, a roustabout in the boarding-house, and an admirer of Georgianna's, becomes suspicious. He stacks furniture and looks through the transom when the furniture falls with a clamor. Morris is terrified and is about to draw his revolver when McHugh hits him with a bottle and then handcuffs him. Leaving Willy to guard the captive, he dashes to the police station and to his office to write up his scoop. Meantime, Bennett, another reporter, arrives and looking over the transom sees Morris still handcuffed and Willy guarding him. He phones for help, and is disappointed because of not being the first to get the story. McHugh feeling sorry for them sends Willy and Georgianna, who has been set free to live with an uncle of his.

Dir: Hobart Henley

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Double Room Mystery perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Jane Ridgeway, the daughter of retired Secret Service man Charles Ridgeway, has inherited her father's knack for solving crimes and puts her talent to work when her sweetheart, Richard Grant, is accused of robbing a bank. Her father, now a bank examiner, works in collusion with two thieves who are acquainted with a master criminal known only as "the Face in the Dark." When the evidence implicates her father in the robbery, Jane confronts him, and although Richard is released from jail, Ridgeway escapes. The two crooks lead him to the Face in the Dark, but as the two men are shaking hands, the place is raided by Secret Service agents who arrest the mysterious criminal and congratulate Ridgeway for his fine detective work. Jane is happily reunited with her sweetheart and her father.

Dir: Hobart Henley

Susan Sweeney inherits a country hotel. When she arrives to take possession, she discovers it to be not the palatial resort she believed, but a run-down inn with an attached saloon. As she struggles to make something of her new operation, she becomes involved in the life and difficulties of her new community.

Dir: Charley Chase

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Face in the Dark perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.

Dir: Hobart Henley

Carlotta lives with Giuseppe a violinist, in "Little Italy." the Italian quarter of a great city. With Rags, a monkey, they earn a livelihood playing on the streets. One day Tom, a wealthy chap, is attracted to the girl and asks her to dance at a charity ball, giving her his card and the date. But Giuseppe drags the girl away. Tom and his friend follow them home, but they are seen by Giuseppe, who tells Michael Gavotti, a leader of Black Handers, and his master. Gavotti threatens Giuseppe if he allows Tom to see the girl again. He also tells two of his men to watch the place. While Giuseppe is absent, Tom appears and persuades Carlotta to come to the charity dance. He is seen by Tony, a fruit vendor. In love with Carlotta, and jealous of her, Gavotti's men also see him and are ordered to abduct the girl. Giuseppe returns, finds her gone, and informs Tony. The two are heart-broken. Tony learns that Carlotta is not Giuseppe's daughter. Giuseppe happens to see the monkey, "Rags," near a building and with the aid of Tony he manages to rescue the girl. It is the night of the Charity Ball and Carlotta pleads to be allowed to go and finally Giuseppe consents, if Tony accompanies her. Judge Andrews and his wife have received word from the Black Handers that their granddaughter, held in custody, would be returned upon receipt of a sum of money. Their daughter ran away with an Italian count, and, dying, had left the granddaughter in care of an Italian friend, the father having died some time before. On the night of the charity dance the Black Hand promised to return the girl. Andrews attends the ball, intending to slip away at the appointed time. When Gavotti cannot find the girl, he goes with his men to Giuseppe's room, where they find the old man packing. Not until after they have tortured him does he reveal that Carlotta has gone to the charity ball, where the Judge and his wife are startled by her resemblance to their daughter. Carlotta goes into the garden and is abducted by Gavotti. Tom, Tony and the Judge take up the chase, which ends in Gavotti's quarters. Most of the gang, including Gavotti, are killed. The Judge and Tom take the girl home. Mrs. Andrews is overjoyed at having Carlotta safe. She marries Tom. On her return from the honeymoon she seeks out Giuseppe and Tony, who rejoice with her.

Dir: Hobart Henley

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

Two baby boys are born in Owentown. One is the unwanted offspring of an avaricious grasping father. He grows to an evil manhood, and loses his one chance of real happiness to the play-fellow whose parents have met their responsibilities.

Dir: Maurice Campbell

Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.

Dir: Richard Smith

Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.