Must-Watch List in the Vein of In Old Kentucky: Cult Guide

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Little Sara Crewe is placed in a boarding school by her father when he goes off to war, but he does not understand that the headmistress is a cruel, spiteful woman who makes life miserable for Sara.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Out of a Clear Sky perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A Belgian countess escapes to America to avoid a loveless marriage and finds romance and adventure in a mountain village in Tennessee.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

With her family in financial difficulties, Rebecca is sent to live with her two strict, unfeeling aunts, who do not appreciate the young girl's charm and energy. Rebecca must make new friends and adjust to surroundings that are sometimes difficult. But she still finds time to think of numerous ways to help others in her new hometown.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

Lopaka, a poor Hawaiian fisherman, falls in love with Kokua, a young girl of royal blood. Her irascible father refuses her hand until Lopaka can bring him two feather cloaks, an impossible stipulation, as no one not of royal blood can touch a cloak under penalty of death. Rollis, a drunken sailor, tries to steal the girl, but is driven away by Lopaka. He then concludes to go to Devil's Mountain and snare the bird from which the feathers for the cloaks are obtained. He goes to the volcano but finds no bird. He encounters an old dying priest of Pele, who agrees to give him a wishing bottle in which Kono, a brother of Pele, is confined. Kono will grant any wish to the bottle's owner, but anyone dying with the bottle in his possession will go to hell and the bottle must be sold for less than paid for it, otherwise it will come back with its menace. Lopaka wishes for wealth and servants and his humble hut turns into a beautiful palace. Kokua and her father join the crowd in front of the palace and the father readily gives her in marriage to Lopaka. Lopaka sells the bottle to his friend, Makale, but angers the Bottle Imp and is stricken with leprosy so that he cannot marry. He finds Makale has sold the bottle and it passes through many hands, but he is unable to secure it again. Each time the bottle is sold for less, being sold for the smallest coin. Rollins gains possession of the bottle and is about to steal Kokua when Lopaka rushes to her aid and the two men fight and fall from a high cliff into the sea, where Lopaka strangles the sailor. With the death of Rollins, the last owner of the bottle, the Imp is freed and goes back to his mountain and the dead volcano gushes forth lava and flames. The gorgeous raiment of Lopaka and Kokua fade into their old rags; the wonderful palace vanishes, but the two are happy together in the fisherman's little hut.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Little one-armed waif Freckles (Jack Pickford), who lives at the orphanage, has no remembrance of his parents. The object of other children's jokes, he finally runs away and after many struggles he meets lumber-camp boss John McLean, who admires the boy's spunk and selects him to be the watchman of Limberlost, a valuable timber swamp. There Freckles meets Angel (Louise Huff), who is spending the summer with the Bird Woman, an enthusiastic naturalist. Angel falls in love with Freckles, but he believes that her feelings for him spring from pity. While they are in the swamp one day, a huge tree topples, endangering Angel's life. Freckles throws himself in the path of the tree, which falls across his chest. Thinking that he is just a waif and therefore unworthy of Angel's love, Freckles does not care to live. As he lies near death, his English grandfather dies, leaving a portion of his estate to his grandson. Solicitors finally trace the lost child to Freckles in the hospital. The news of the good fortune is told to Angel, who goes to tell the dying boy. The realization that he is now on the same social level with Angel brings back his dwindling life, and the two face a happy life together.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

At the outbreak of the First World War, a mother and one of her two daughters are captured and debased at the hands of the Germans. The other daughter goes from America to find them in war torn Belgium.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Three men, disillusioned in love and intent on getting away from all women, rent a cabin and retreat there. But the young woman who owns the cabin, unaware that it has been rented, is on her way there to escape from an unhappy engagement.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

Amarilly comes from a large family in a working-class neighborhood. She is happy with her family and her boyfriend Terry, a bartender in a cafe. But one day she meets Gordon, a sculptor who comes from a rich family, and she begins to be drawn into the world of the upper class.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

M'liss, a feisty young girl in a mining camp, falls for Charles Gray, the school teacher. Charles is implicated in a murder of which he is innocent, and the two must fight to save him from a lynching.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Jane Colby, doubting the honesty of Harvey Wilson, a member of the firm by which she is employed, discovers a discrepancy in his accounts, and his resignation is therefore requested by Edward Royle. his partner. Both these men are interested in Edith Preston. Wilson is her favorite, the fact that he is married having been kept from her. She accepts Royle's proposal of marriage. Wilson, revengeful, plans with David Pierce to effect Royle's financial ruin. Jane has saved nearly $10,000 with which to purchase a home. She is daily becoming of more value to her employer, and discovering that the stock in which he is interested is going down, and unable to reach Royle, forges his signature to a check and buys "Consolidated." Wilson learns that Jane has pulled Royle out of the hole and works through Edith to obtain her discharge. Royle quickly finds out how little he really knows of his own business and puts Jane back to work. Believing Jane out of the way, Wilson and Pierce are confident they can "clean" Royle and make a fortune for themselves. Jane learns it will take $10,000 more to make Royle safe, and buys the stock with her own money. Edith has refused to help Royle, forbidding him to touch her jewels. She leaves Royle and goes to Wilson's apartment, leaving a note for her husband. The latter learns from the chauffeur where she has gone and follows. Fearing trouble. Jane also goes to Wilson's apartment and hides Edith as Royle rushes in. He accuses her of also being under Wilson's spell and reveals the fact that he is married. Edith hears this, and mad with rage, bursts into the room, puts her arms around her husband, who repulses her. Wilson also states he wants nothing more to do with her. At the office Jane shows Royle a news item about a big foreign order which revives the stock, but he believes it has come too late. As Jane reveals to him how she has saved him, he tells her that she is no longer a silent partner, but a full partner, and the love which has never before been expressed lights up both their faces.