The Definitive Watchlist Seeking the Same Brilliance as Her Fightin...

Dir: Edwin Carewe

Before the guests arrive for a party in her apartment, Agnes Lambert, a writer of unsalable fiction, starts revising one of her stories because she realizes that it lacks drama and emotion. Later, she begins a romance with Tom Leighton, but although Tom loves her, he is already engaged to Ruth Beresford, who was recently blinded in an explosion. Aware of the impossibility of their affair, Agnes decides to commit suicide, but when Ruth, whose vision has been restored by an operation, discovers that Tom no longer loves her, she frees him to marry his new sweetheart. Tom goes to Agnes, but arrives too late, and finds her dead. Then, guests knock at Agnes' door, ready for a party, and, having just finished revising a story in which she stars as a woman who commits suicide because she wrongly believes that a love affair has failed, Agnes rises from her typewriter to greet them.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

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

Shortly after arriving in the West, James Van Dyke Moore, an Easterner fleeing from a soured love affair, has his courage tested when "Ace High" Horton, the town bully, threatens to take over the family mine. Forced into battle, the tenderfoot stands his ground against Horton, an act that impresses pretty Mollie Anderson. One day, Robert Forrest arrives from the East with Verda, his bride, who is Moore's former lover. While Forrest is off inspecting his mines, Verda and Horton become lovers and plan an elopement, but upon Forrest's return, Verda informs him that she is leaving town to escape Moore's advances. Because he has vowed not to reveal anything about their past affair, Moore is unable to defend himself. That night, Forrest sees Verda riding away with Horton and shoots him, but Moore is accused and arrested. Through the intervention of Mollie, Moore is released in time to intercept the couple in the desert. After disposing of Horton, Moore returns Verda to the town, whose angry citizens drive her back into the desert, and then proposes to Mollie.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

Big-hearted Prue, living in the slums, and Danny O'Maddigan, a reformed crook, want to buy a birthday cake for Prue's 75-year-old grandmother. They live across the hall from Ellen Rutherford, the destitute widow of Steven Rutherford, Jr., who was disinherited by his father, a wealthy candy manufacturer. Prue, who works at the candy factory, gives Ellen the money that was meant for her grandmother's cake so Ellen will be able to care for her son Bobby. Frustrated over the loss of the money, Danny steals the price of a cake from the factory's safe, leaving the safe's door open in his haste to depart. Danny's former gang arrives and cleans out the safe, and Danny is convicted of the crime and sent to prison for four years. While Danny is in prison, Bobby is struck by his grandfather's car and slightly injured. Stricken with remorse, Mr. Rutherford effects a reconciliation with his daughter-in-law and promises to use his influence to bring about Danny's release from prison.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

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

A woman marries a German immigrant in New York, but loses him when her soiled past is revealed. He returns to Germany after the beginning of the First World War, where he becomes a high-ranking officer in the German army. His wife joins the Red Cross and, in a combat hospital, discovers her wounded husband. Her love for both her husband and her country lead her to a great sacrifice.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

Unknown to his daughter Jacqueline, Miles Allen, in the guise of a fisherman, smuggles silk and fur into the country. Customs officer John Lang comes to investigate, and he and Jacqueline quickly fall in love. Ward Jennings, the owner of Miles' boat, also loves her, but Miles refuses to let him marry her, so Ward gets revenge by revealing Miles' smuggling operation to Coast Guard officers, who kill Miles in a struggle at his home. Jacqueline mistakenly blames John for her father's death and goes to Ward for help. She then learns the truth about Ward; they fight on a cliff-top and he falls to his death. John comes to comfort Jacqueline, and they begin making plans for their life together.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

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

As Danny Rowland, a tramp, and his partner Dominie, an ex-minister, trudge wearily past the Winnicrest mansion in Tennessee, an old servant called Uncle Alex rushes up to Danny and welcomes him home as his long-lost employer, Richard Castleman. Amused, Danny assumes the role, and he and Dominie are clothed, fed, and generally treated like royalty. The beautiful Jean Logan, who had believed with the rest of the neighborhood that Richard was lost at sea, greets her returning sweetheart with a passionate embrace, and Danny soon falls in love with her. Dr. Harry Chilton, Richard's cousin and rival in love, maintains that Danny is an impostor, but Danny defeats him in a fight and banishes him from the estate. When Danny announces his intention to marry Jean, Dominie is shocked and tells her everything. Forced to confess to the sheriff, "Danny" reveals that he is indeed Richard, earlier robbed of his clothing and money by a crook named Danny Rowland, who died on a voyage to Australia. Relieved, all of the parties--with the exception of the jealous doctor--are reunited.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

A daughter is grief-stricken by the loss of her father. His male friend becomes her guardian, and she is taken to live with the friend's mother. Time passes and romance blossoms in the girl's heart for her guardian. However, a love rival arrives from the city and catches his eye, and the drama unfolds.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

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

Proud Confederate Captain Covington Halliday refuses to allow his daughter Martha to marry Northern lawyer Walter Lewis. As a boy, Covington was given an African American servant named Dan, who has always called him "Marse Covington." After the Civil War, Dan refused his freedom and stood by Covington, sharing his misfortunes. Jim Daly, who holds the mortgage on Halliday House, also wants to marry Martha, so he schemes with gambler Edward Bantree to fix a race in which Covington has wagered all his property on his beloved horse, Bess. Although Bess loses, Martha refuses to marry Jim to reclaim her family home. She moves to New York City with her father and Dan, but their savings are soon exhausted and Covington is forced to stand in bread lines. After Dan goes to work for Edward, he learns about the plot to fix the race. He tells Walter, who is later hired to defend Edward for Jim's murder. In lieu of cash, Walter demands the Halliday House deed as payment. Covington returns to his home with Dan, and gives Walter his blessing to marry Martha.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

Leaving his wife Rose for a few weeks and eager to do research for his new novel about the elderly, Henry Norman goes to live in a home for the aged, where Blossom, the home's young maid, falls in love with him. When she lets him know how she feels, however, Henry tells her that he has a wife. When his research is over, he returns to her--and discovers that she has eloped with his friend Perry Westley, and that they were both killed by a lightning bolt that struck Perry's car. While Henry recovers from this double shock, Blossom quits her job and finds work at God's Half Acre, an orphanage. While on a picnic with the children, she once again meets Henry, who realizes that he loves Blossom. They marry.

Dir: Edwin Carewe

One day Coventry Petmore leaves his wife and child to go out in the world and fight the social evils of divorce and loveless marriage. Circumstances lead him to the home of Judge Mitchell, where the judge's son, a minister, and his wife Beatrice reside. The minister does not believe in expressing affection to his wife, and Beatrice becomes enamored of her chauffeur Larry Price. Petmore encourages Beatrice to tell the minister that she is running away with Price, then surreptitiously coaches the minister to give a response that Petmore believes will win Beatrice back. The plan backfires, however, and only a rainstorm and car trouble prevent Beatrice and Price from running off. Getting wind of Petmore's role in the affair, the judge has him ejected from the household, and Petmore returns home to discover that his wife has run away with her chauffeur. Petmore's conviction in his theories remains unshaken, however.