Curated Recommendations Seeking the Same Brilliance as Life's Shadows: Cult Guide

Dir: William Nigh

The story tells of the reformation of a millionaire's son, who later develops such consistent speed on the "draw" and on a horse that it wins for him the title of "The Blue Streak." Driven from home, the "Streak" changes his mode of living entirely. News of his adventurous spirit penetrates even into the town of Sterling, beyond the Rockies, where he one day finds himself. He strolls into the common meeting-place there, the saloon, and proceeds to prevent a forced marriage between the proprietor's daughter, "The Fledgling," and a gambler by the simple expedient of covering all with his revolver while preparing to make her captive himself. A short time after they reach his retreat in the hills, the "Streak' is almost overcome by what occurs to him. The gambler must have wronged the girl, and he, the "Streak," has interfered with retribution. He leaves "The Fledgling" in his partner's care and rides furiously back to the town for the "miscreant." He makes him prisoner, after a hard fight, and with a parson, brings him to the hut. The girl protests that the gambler has not harmed her, but the "Streak" will not listen. In desperation, "The Fledgling" goes through with a fake marriage ceremony. Miles away on the horizon the "Streak" sees a posse approaching to arrest him for his escapades. He bids "The Fledgling" good-bye and prepares for surrender. She begs him to flee. When he refuses she rushes to his arms, crying out her explanation. He mounts his horse, lifts her behind him, and dashes off, to begin life anew in his old home.

Dir: William Nigh

A naive young man, raised poor in a small town, comes to New York City to make his fortune. Overwhelmed by the city's hustle and bustle, and entranced by the rich and sophisticated high-society types he comes into contact with, he eventually finds himself caught up in the city's seedy underworld.

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

Dir: William Nigh

American ambassador to Germany James W. Gerard warns that Germany will rise again to power and an attempt at world domination unless safeguards are taken, in this documentary-style propaganda drama.

Dir: William Nigh

Marian Delmar's architect father has died without an estate, though she thinks he has left her a settlement of some sort. From the time of his death, a member of his profession, Varcoe, has sent her a monthly remittance with enables her to live decently and study painting. Then Varcoe dies, leaving no instructions regarding the remittance and no reason why his son Olin should continue it. John Hartfield, whose father has been a lawyer of doubtful integrity but unquestionable shrewdness, is now the one Marian turns to when her remittance fails to arrive. He subsequently informs her that the remittance seems to have been a matter of charity on the late Varcoe's part; incidentally, his son Olin is dying from his wild dissipation and morbid excesses. Marian's independent nature revolts at having been an object of charity, and against John's pleading she decides to pay the debt by nursing Olin back to health. She offers her services as nurse, and Olin exhibits a wicked joy at engaging her. All repair to the old Varcoe home on the St. Lawrence, where lives Mrs. Varcoe, whom her supposed son has never seen; she has been an invalid for 40 years, faithfully attended by the old family physician in a house with Indian servants, and strange furnishings that must have been the expression of a morbid brain. When Olin meets Mrs. Varcoe, whose son he is supposed to be, he seems to inspire her with fear and misgiving. She is immediately impressed with Marian, whose attentions are now directed to the old lady's health. The aged doctor's jealousy of Marian in her efforts to relieve Mrs. Varcoe creates frequent friction. Through the finding of certain plans in a secret compartment, John finds that Marian's father was the real brains behind the elder Varcoe's success; hence, the remittance by agreement. Olin's morbid nature drives him to take advantage of an Indian girl in his household, and the consequence is the exposure of the secret that he himself is the offspring of such an affair on his father's part. Meanwhile, John constantly tries to dissuade Marian from continuing in this atmosphere, but a strong affection has developed between Marian and the kind old lady that furnishes the incentive for her to remain. Olin is determined to have one more big fling before he passes away, and invites a number of his dissipated city friends to spend the weekend. Olin traps Marian in a secret passage, but another Indian and John rescue her and wound Olin. Olin crawls to the Indian huts on the estate where the remainder of his mother's tribe dwelt, and dies in the arms of his Indian grandfather. Marian and John determine to travel the road of life together, while the old doctor gives evidence that his devotion to his equally-venerable patient was not purely professional interest.

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

Dir: William Nigh

Alita, a child who has been left in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Putnam in a desolate swamp country, reaches the age when she is to be prepared for the world, and the Putnams send word to Judge Gates, her guardian, to come for her. Her life has been spent in the swamps with a half-witted boy, "Weird Willie," and many animals and birds of that country, as her only playmates. Judge Gates receives the letter at his bachelor apartment, which he shares with a younger friend and companion, Bob Stange. Through the accidental dropping of a marriage license the Judge discovers that Bob is about to become a benedict, despite the fact that they had a compact never to marry, on the theory that all women are deceitful. The Judge recounts a story about one ill-fated marriage that ended in the divorce courts, in which the real tragedy was the little baby which no one seemed to want. Bob turns a deaf ear to this and leaves in anger. Constance, the one woman Bob has idealized, is older than he. She plays upon his sympathies by telling of her hard work as a dressmaker, when, in reality, she is leading a dual life, and only wants Bob for his money. She is carrying on a liaison with a Calvin Baker, a man about town, and he is calling on her when Bob arrives and tells her a minister is on the way to marry them. Baker hides behind the screen and listens. Bob tells Constance that he has invited his best friend, Judge Gates, to the ceremony. When Constance hears this name she is startled and insists on the ceremony being hurried. The marriage is performed as the Judge arrives. He recognizes Constance as the one who has ruined his own and his best friend's life. He denounces her, and Bob realizes her perfidy when he finds Baker hidden in the room. Bob and the Judge leave, and go away for a fishing trip, hoping to forget. In the country Bob comes upon Alita, and through a strange chain of circumstances, she is slightly wounded by a shot which her constant protector, "Weird Willie," intended for Bob. Alita falls in love with Bob, for he is the first man she has come in contact with. The Judge decides to take Alita away. Judge Gates puts Alita in charge of a professor to educate her, but she proves, through her hoydenish ways, a source of annoyance to the teacher. Bob receives a letter from his sister, telling him she has found the right girl for him at a summer hotel, where she is stopping. The Judge buys an extensive wardrobe for Alita, and by chance, they go to the same hotel for which Bob is bound. Bob is startled when his sister leads him into the presence of Constance. Alita meets Constance and the girl is attracted to her. The Judge finds them together and afterwards upbraids Constance. Alita and Bob meet again. Bob goes to Constance, begs her to release him, and to grant him a divorce. The Judge sees Bob enter her room and follows. Alita waits until they leave. She goes to Constance and asks her if she knew Bob before. Constance tells her the truth. Alita leaves all, and goes back to the swamp country. She cannot face the Putnams, so she runs into the fields instead, where she wishes to die. After Alita leaves Judge Gates tells Constance that Alita is her child. Constance's better nature is aroused and she goes in search of her daughter. Bob and the Judge follow. Constance agrees with the Judge that it is best not to tell Alita the truth, and when Bob and "Weird Willie" find Alita in the swamps, Constance wanders away to her death that Bob may be free to marry the child she has wronged.

Dir: William Nigh

A powerful financial magnate is plotted against by his greedy son.

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

Dir: William Nigh

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William Nigh

A dramatization of the life of Theodore Roosevelt leading up to his presidency of the United States. Included are depictions of his youth, his membership in the New York State Assembly, his days as a cowboy, police commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and leader of the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War.

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

Dir: William Nigh

When Count Peter Turgeneff, his daughter Nadia, and his generous-hearted son Paul came to live in the Governor's palace in the Russian province of Valogda, there was rejoicing among the oppressed race whose home was in the Ghetto. Turgeneff was known as a just and merciful man who had done much to make the hard lot of the Jews bearable in the districts under his charge. Hence his coming was hailed with joy by Isaac, prophet of Israel, and his people. Quite other feelings did his arrival create in the breast of Michael Orzoff, the grim Prefect of Police of Valogda, who sat in his office in the fortress and received the reports of the secret agents of the Czar. It was known that Orzoff was the secret power behind the dreaded "Yellow Jackets," the dire organization whose avowed object was the extermination of the people of Israel. There seemed no help. The Prefect's influence reached far, even into the high places in far-off Petrograd. Even women, provided they were fair to look upon, found their sex no protection from his infamy. For all these reasons the coming of Count Turgeneff to Valogda was not at all to Orzoff's liking. Soon after his coming Orzoff learned two things: one was that the new governor had pledged his help to the Jews, and the other that his daughter Nadia was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen and quite as ardent as her father in her support of the oppressed race. To think was to act with Orzoff. The governor was strong, but not more strong than he. In the high places in Petrograd, whence both received authority, the Prefect held the more power. In Russia the police are all powerful. The Count menaced Orzoff, for already word had been brought to the Governor, as Orzoff well knew, that the Prefect was the secret driving force behind the evil "Yellow Jackets." So Orzoff laid his plan. With his countless agents provocateurs and secret minions in the "Yellow Jackets," daring as that plan was, he felt it could not fail. On the night of the grand ball at the Governor's palace, the plan was consummated. Thither had come, at Nadia's urging. Isaac, chief of the Jews of the Ghetto, and Leah, the lovely daughter of old Samuels the cobbler, whose honor had been stained by the rude lust of Orzoff, with many others, there to accuse the Prefect face to face of the wrongs with which he had burdened them. But they did not reckon with the Prefect's plan. Suddenly there had been a cry without a rush of many feet and a frenzied mob had burst in among the guests of the Governor. "Death to the Jews," was their rallying cry. Then came Orzoff's own uniformed men and dispersed the rioters, but not before an assassin's bullet had found a resting place in the heart of Count Turgeneff. Nor did Orzoff stop there. Secure in his influence at Petrograd, he directed his men to seize the weeping Nadia, her brother Paul, and Isaac the Jew, and imprison them in the fortress under a charge of treason. And there on the day following he found a way to wreak his evil will upon the girl. The Prefect came to her in the cell, where she passed the night. He bent over her menacingly as she sat on the stone seat that had formed her couch. "You will give yourself to me," he said abruptly, "or your brother shall suffer the torture by fire ere he goes to Siberia." The as Nadia, in contempt and loathing, struck at him in the half-darkness he added, "Listen, and you shall hear for yourself; only your promised work can stop this pain."

Dir: William Nigh

In his desire to gain the whole world and be a power god, an arrogant rich man almost loses all when his own flesh and blood double-crosses him. But a grandson who refuses to permit greed of gold to destroy his ideals, and a sweet blind girl--one of God's innocent children--show the old man and his unscrupulous kin that the greatest possession is love.