Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as I Love You: Cult Guide

Dir: Walter Edwards

Paul Boudeaux shares lodgings with Richard Landers, his business partner, and Richard's young wife Matilda. Paul and Richard are in deep financial trouble, but when Paul's wealthy uncle, Batiste Boudeaux, comes to visit for a night, Matilda suddenly is inspired with a plan to save the business. Knowing that Uncle Batiste will give Paul $50,000 if the young man marries, Matilda introduces herself as Paul's wife, which greatly pleases the old bachelor. Complications arise, however, when Batiste decides to stay for a month, and the situation gets worse when early one morning, he sees Paul sleeping on the sofa and Richard stealing away from Matilda's room. Because Paul falls in love with Batiste's nurse Rose, the partners finally get their money, and even the old uncle gives up his bachelorhood by marrying fashion model Mme. Julie.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

After discovering her husband Roger has been unfaithful to her, Angela De Haven sets out to make all men pay for his deceit. Roger, despairing of ever winning back his wife, sails for the South Sea islands and is lost during the voyage. Meanwhile, Angela establishes a salon where prominent men vie for her attentions. One of the members of her court, Bragdon Brant, controls the Bob Cat mine, but not the railroad extending to it which is owned by Bob Spalding. Brant sends Angela West to buy the controlling interest in the railroad and she meets Bob, who falls in love with her. Angela refuses to marry him and flees after securing control of the road through Bob's partner, Durant. She returns to New York, intent upon ruining Brant, but is prevented from carrying out her plans when Bob appears and forces her to realize the destructive path that her life has taken. Angela then restores the railroad shares to Bob, and thus reconciled, they travel West to spend the rest of their lives together.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Jane is a comely little slavey in a fishermen's village. The only two friends she has among all the inhabitants are David Holden, the aged keeper of the lighthouse, "The Eye of the Night," and Rob Benson, a young fisher lad whom she has loved with all her heart. Rob and Jane were to be married as soon as the lad could save enough to build them a little nest by the sea. But then the war broke out and Rob was the first to volunteer. Jane whispered a secret to him the day he was to leave that all but made him back out, but, like everyone else, Rob thought the war was to last only a few days and then he would be back in plenty of time, but he wasn't, and one day a nameless little waif was born in one of the big hospitals in London. In her despair Jane turned to the only friend she had, aged David Holden, and determined to ask him to take her baby and be its father. David Holden not only takes in the baby but the mother as well, to the resulting indignation of the narrow-minded townspeople, who first demand that Jane be driven out. When David refuses, they manage to secure his dismissal as keeper of the light. And so David, with Jane and the baby, move into the little cottage David has built from his savings and prepare to live out their lives. While readjusting their lives in the new home, Jane discovers that her mother was David Holden's wife and that her only protector was really her father. But David Holden's wife had run away and left him for another man years and years before and he does not give the girl, his daughter, a chance to make known her discovery to him, simply dismissing the subject of the woman the girl knew to be her mother with a word and a gesture. But Jane cherishes the secret. War comes close to the little hamlet in which David Holden and his two wards live. One night aeroplanes fly over it, dropping bombs as they sped past. One bomb wrecks the lighthouse. All the village knew that an army transport bearing wounded was making for their port. When David sees the lighthouse wrecked, he determines to guide the ship through the narrow entrance to the harbor at all costs. He deliberately sets fire to his cottage to serve as a beacon to guide the mariners. The boat reaches the harbor safely, thanks to David, and the next morning, among the first of the wounded to come from the vessel is Rob Benson. His reunion with Jane follows immediately and the tardy marriage ceremony is immediately performed. And then Jane, her own name cleared, tells David Holden that she is his daughter.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

When playwright Curtis de Forest Ralston becomes enamored of actress Viola Strathmore, who is to appear in his play "Vanity," Viola induces him to change certain parts and give her more lines. Curtis, who is not as talented as he thinks he is, fails at his job but is saved by his wife Anita, a former actress who has forsaken her career for marriage. Anita and her old manager, Bruce Winthrope, fashion the play to suit Viola, and "Vanity" becomes a huge success. The play's triumph enlarges Curtis's ego even further, and he deserts Anita for Viola. When the play's financial backer discovers the illicit relationship between the star and author, however, he withdraws his funds and the play closes. Still in love with Viola, Curtis attempts to continue their affair, but she kills him because she blames him for her downfall. Fearful of the police, Viola takes refuge in a tenement, and when they track her down, Viola's faithful Egyptian servant Borul slays his employer rather than let her perish at the hands of the law.

Dir: Walter Edwards

David Waltham is the head of a syndicate, which corners the food supply. His wife hears of her husband's operation and begs him to consider the poor, who will be unable to pay the prices that his monopoly will exact. He is merciless, however. Among those who suffer from Waltham's efforts is an engineer named John Adams. The bank in which his small funds are deposited undergoes a "run" and he loses all his money. He has previously lost his job. The Adams family is reduced to starvation and finally Adams in desperation breaks a window in a bakery and gets away with an armful of bread. He is arrested and is sent up to the workhouse for thirty days. The rent collector comes around, but Mrs. Adams is unable to pay him anything though she slaves over the washboard and her two children assist her. Seeing that the woman is beautiful, the collector gives her some money, telling her to buy her children and herself a square meal. She reluctantly accepts his gift. Little by little she descends until she even appears in a low dance hall with the man. John Adams returns from jail and goes to his humble rooms. There he finds his children in bed. Finally his wife appears in beautiful and expensive clothes. She appears disgusted with the life she leads and wipes the paint off her lips with loathing. Then she suddenly sees her husband, who is staring at her as if in a trance. She is almost hysterical from fright. He grasps her wrists roughly and demands an explanation. She tells him that she has done it for the children's sake. This plea saves her life, but the soul of John Adams is filled with bitterness. Widespread suffering and destitution prevail and bread lines are everywhere in the poorer quarters of the great city. Men and women practice deception to get a little more bread and some get into fights overcome by their own and their children's sufferings. Three desperate men invade the sanctum of David Waltham, but are quelled by his masterful manner and slink away impotently when he tells them that he will call the police if they are not gone in a minute. John Adams gets a job in Waltham's big storage house. A fellow worker points out Waltham to Adams and the latter's rage against the big monopolist is aroused to a high pitch of fury as he thinks of his wife's degradation. Adams blames it all on Waltham. That night he secrets himself in the big warehouse and telephones to Waltham saying that the police are down there, having heard of a secret plan on the part of some of the starving populace to destroy the place. He tells Waltham to leave his auto a block or two away from the building, when he comes, to avoid suspicion. Adams gets Waltham in the building and securely ties him and then leaves him to starve. That he may not be found, Adams surrounds the magnate with a big pile of boxes. In his struggles to free himself, Waltham upsets the towering piles of boxes and they topple over completely burying him.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Promising young lawyer Jack Dunn becomes a victim of drugs and loses his standing in the legal world. He passes his idle hours in the slums where he meets underworld figure Nan Bishop, whose influence helps to make a man out of Dunn; with her help he breaks his dependence on drugs and is successful in obtaining a position as a criminal lawyer. Years later, they meet again in a courtroom: Nan has been falsely accused of murder and Dunn is the prosecuting attorney. Learning that Dunn's professional future depends on his winning the case, Nan pleads guilty, but at the last minute, the real criminal is discovered and Nan is cleared of the crime. She then accepts Dunn's offer of marriage and together they look forward to a happy future.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Foster Borrum is the wealthiest man in the town of Norwalk. He practically owns everything. He has won his position by merciless grinding and is regarded by the villagers with fear and contempt. A stern man, with only one softening influence in his life, his wife, whom he idolizes. The wife dies and Borrum turns on the world with added bitterness and hatred. He is living a life of dreary isolation when one day a visitor steps off the train at the station, a little girl; also alone in the world; who has been tagged to her destination in the search of a relative who has long since disappeared. The villagers are too poor to adopt the child. In a cynical mood Borrum takes possession of the girl. Ivy Marten, and installs her in his home. Ivy, aching for sympathy, meets with no response from the austere man, whose treatment of her borders on brutality. Exaggerated reports of this reach the authorities, and Borrum is haled before them. Ivy, who loves the old man in spite of his coldness, is the prime witness for the defense and her loyal support of her guardian wins the day. A change comes over the attitude of Borrum towards the child and the world in general and with a softened heart he strives to make life happier for the orphan and for the hitherto despised inhabitants of the poverty stricken village.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Paddy O'Hara is the star reporter on the London Blade. Rumors of impending warfare between two Balkan principalities reach London, and Paddy is dispatched to the seat of action. Before leaving he comes across the photograph of a military officer. Count Ivan of Darbaya, and his niece, the Lady Maryska. Two weeks later Paddy reaches Tarozza, the seaport capital of Ideria, and finds that the army there is preparing to invade Darbaya. While waiting at Tarozza he forms the acquaintance of a Captain Raoul du Plessis, of the Iderian Huzzars. Raoul is charged with an important mission to Darbaya, and carries on his person documents to be delivered at headquarters. In order to obtain these and delay the Captain's departure, a spy insults him and forces a duel. Du Plessis, who chooses Paddy secretly transfer the documents to Paddy, who leave Tarozza disguised in the uniform of Captain Raoul. Although the spies are hot on his trail, Paddy reaches a castle perched high on the cliffs of Darbaya. The castle is deserted, as its men folk are fighting in the valley and its women have been sent away to a place of safety. One inmate alone is left, the Lady Maryska, the girl of his dreams. Maryska sees in Paddy an intruder in the hated uniform of Ideria and treats him with scorn. At the time of the meeting the Iderians are sweeping all before them, and Colonel Ivan retreats to the castle. The Colonel's one anxiety is to get his niece away from the danger zone. As the castle is about to fall into the hands of the enemy, the only way to escape is to place her in the care of Paddy. By a slight alteration, the passport is made to read Patrick O'Hara and wife. Circumstances make it imperative for Paddy to go through the marriage ceremony with Maryska, who only consents on the condition that she is to be freed from the marital yoke as soon as they reach safety. Passing through innumerable adventures and hardships the couple at last gain the frontier. Paddy sends his dispatch to the Blade and while dictating to the operator leaves Maryska asleep under shelter. The message sent, he returns just in time to see Maryska seized and borne away in an aeroplane by emissaries of the enemy. Paddy returns to London. When all hope is lost, he receives a summons to a foreign embassy, where a proposition is made to him to relinquish his wife in order that she may wed a great personage. He is assured that a divorce can easily be arranged and is offered a handsome monetary bribe and other considerations. O'Hara refuses the proposition, and his refusal is overheard by Maryska, who is hiding in the council chamber. Maryska has learned to love the gallant Irishman during the stormy days of battle and flight, and convinces him that the hurried wedding in the Balkans will stand good for all time.

Dir: Walter Edwards

A Pair of Silk Stockings is a 1918 American silent marital comedy film starring Constance Talmadge and Harrison Ford. It was directed by Walter Edwards and produced and distributed by Select Pictures Corporation. The film is based on a 1914 Broadway play of the same name.

Dir: Walter Edwards

After her family dies in the jungle, Ollante is raised by Brazilian Indians, and, from her rugged lifestyle, she grows into a woman of uncommon strength and courage. Then, she rescues Ridgeway Webb, an explorer lost in the wilderness, and he soon discovers, through papers left on Ollante by her parents, that she is worth a fortune. As a result, the unscrupulous Ridgeway starts courting Ollante, and after she has fallen in love with him, he marries her and brings her to New York. At a society party, however, which Ridgeway turns into a drunken orgy, Ollante hears her husband boast of his cunning in catching a millionaire for a wife. Suddenly aware of his motives, Ollante takes off her American high society outfit, puts on her jungle costume, and strangles Ridgeway.