Hidden Genre Gems for Fans of La bambola vivente: Cult Guide

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A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

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.

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When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

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

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.

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Bianca works in a porcelain factory. Enrico Cernelli, the head foreman, falls in love with Bianca and marries her. Bianca, tired of living poorly, leaves the home for a life of luxury with another man. One night, Enrico sneaks into her new house and begs her to come back. Upon her refusal, he strikes her. Not knowing if he killed her, he escapes. Back home, grief-stricken, he calls upon death where he hears a knock on the door. Bianca is coming back.

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

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

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In ancient times Rome looked upon Carthage as her greatest rival, and determined to plan her downfall. Cato, a Roman Senator, appealed to the Senate to conquer Carthage, and under a pretext that she had failed to keep faith, the Romans began a new war. The Roman army embarked for Africa and landed near Carthage. (This ends the prologue.) Markia, daughter of General Astrubal, Governor of Carthage, asks permission of Zaniah, her stepmother, to visit the Temple outside the town, which is refused, but Astrubal intercedes and consents to Markia's doing so. Mobi, Astrubal's spy, brings news to him of the triumphant advance of the Romans on African soil, and from the walls of the city they watch the retreat of the Carthaginian army commanded by General Annon. Astrubal, ambitious to become the dictator, conspires to cause the downfall of Annon, and induces the city council to bar the mercenary troops from the town, fearing disorder and plundering. Messengers are dispatched to the warriors with this command, and they rebel, but Annon calms them by promising to present their grievances. In the meantime, Astrubal denounces Annon, and upon the latter's appearance in the Senate he is assassinated. Upon returning from the Temple, Markia is abducted by some of Annon's warriors, but Sirabas, his lieutenant, releases her and escorts her to the city. The impatient warriors start an uproar outside the city, but Astrubal calms them, consenting to receive a deputation with their grievances. Sirabas heads the delegation and is received by Astrubal, who apparently yields to the soldiers' request. Upon beholding Sirabas, Markia's stepmother, falls in love with him. Astrubal entertains his warriors in the banquet hall, but plans a massacre that night by his bodyguard, who secretly enter the palace. Zamah, Astrubal's wife, tries to save Sirabas by summoning him to her chamber. While there he hears the clamor of the fight and realizes the treachery of Astrubal. Sirabas escapes from the town and carries the news of the massacre to the waiting warriors. Markia, who had seen Sirabas leave the chamber of Zamah, has lost faith in him and seeks seclusion in the Temple. Sirabas and his soldiers join the Romans, who, headed by young Scipio, receive him with open arms. Preparations are made for the siege of the city. Astrubal's bodyguard sallies forth and captures Sirabas and a Roman outpost. Markia begs her father to save Sirabas and her plea is successful. She repulses him, however, and he determines to seek an explanation. Later he meets her in the sacred garden and convinces her of the truth. While trying to escape from the garden Sirabas is taken prisoner and Zamah has him sentenced to galley-slavery, and he is chained in the hold of a ship. The town is attacked by the Roman legions and conquered. Astrubal deserts his followers and flees to his galleys with his daughter. Zamah, however, refuses to desert the palace and dies a heroic death. The Roman fleet pursues Astrubal's galleys and defeats them, Astrubal being killed in the melee. Markia discovers Sirabas chained in the ship's hold, and succeeds in breaking the chain. Sirabas in turn rescues Markia from the raging flames and, throwing her overboard, jumps after her, leaving the galley to burn to the water's edge. Both lovers succeed in reaching the shore and are reunited once more.

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

While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.

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Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.

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A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.