Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of Her Five-Foot High...

Dir: Maurice Elvey

A lady marries a horse trainer but withholds herself until her crippled brother is cured.

Dir: William Parke

Bruce Wendell, the son of West Virginia coal mine owner James Wendell, graduates from West Point and prepares to lead a fighting unit to the front during World War I. As his father lies dying, however, he convinces Bruce to remain at home and guard the mine. Bruce's fiancée Ann Blair assumes that he is a coward and breaks off their engagement, but her brother Bobbie remains Bruce's loyal friend. Meyer, a German agent, persuades railroad president Parrish to refuse to transport Wendell's coal, but when Bruce adamantly refuses to close the mine, the spy's men decide to blow it up. While Ann is being abducted by Meyer, Bobbie is buried in an explosion at the mine. Bruce rescues Bobbie and then sends a plea to Lieutenant Parrish to rescue Ann. Meyer and his gang are captured and Ann renews her vow of love to Bruce.

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

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

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

Dir: Alexander Butler

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

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

Dir: Harry L. Franklin

Because her mother wishes it, Kate Leigh marries Basil Kildare, the wealthy owner of a Southern plantation called Storm. His servant Mahaly, the mother of his illegitimate son, protests his infidelity so bitterly that Basil takes the child away from her. Kate soon finds that her new husband is a coarse and brutal alcoholic and seeks comfort in the friendship of Dr. Jacques Benoix and his mother. When Basil obtains a note written from his wife to Jacques, he finds the doctor and engages him in a brutal fight. After Basil is found dead, Jacques is sentenced to life in prison, but some years later, owing to Kate's unceasing efforts on his behalf, he is granted a pardon. On her deathbed, Mahaly confesses that she killed Basil, leaving Kate and Jacques to begin a new life together.

Dir: Harry L. Franklin

Twins Nelson and J. Barrington Drake return home for the celebration of their parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Barrington is a wealthy oilman, but Nelson is a pastor in a small rural church, who is struggling to increase his ever-shrinking flock, Barrington tells him that his problem could be solved with the right type of salesmanship, and proceeds to map out a plan to do just that. However, a case of mistaken identity--and a scheme by two of the church's deacons to take over all of the church property--throws a wrench into his plans.

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

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Harry L. Franklin

Lon Withers, a bored clerk for an exporter, annoys his sweetheart, Suzanne Brooks, his employer's daughter, with his get-rich-quick schemes. To teach him a lesson, Suzanne has South American millionaire importer Señor Romez cable Lon that he will be arriving soon to look for an American representative. Lon attempts to bluff his way into Romez's good graces by entertaining him lavishly on the life savings he cajoles from bookkeeper Ford and by impressing Romez with his phony company, F. F., Inc., or Four Flusher, Inc., located in a ritzy hotel. After two weeks of spending at cabarets, boxing matches, and horse races, Lon is broke. When he convinces members of the hotel staff to contribute to his company, the hotel detective arrests him. Suzanne and Romez straighten things out, and Romez, impressed by Lon's hustling, hires him as his American representative, which leaves him and Suzanne happy.