Deep Archive Finds in the Vein of Love's Conquest: Cult Guide

Dir: Edward José

Harold R. Peat tries to enlist in the United States army so that he may fight in World War I but is rejected by the recruiting officer. He is despondent until he and his friend, Old Bill, concoct a scheme whereby they are both accepted. After a stint in training camp, Harry bids his sweetheart Mary goodbye and accompanies Bill to France. Following several adventures at the front, Bill is killed and Harold, in trying to save a load of ammunition, is wounded. Harold spends some time in a French hospital, after which Mary comes to France to bring her heroic private home.

Dir: Edward José

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

Sincere but struggling sculptor Tommasso (Caruso--bushy moustache, gawky) works in an ornamental plaster shop, but his masterpiece on the side is a bust of his cousin Caroli (Caruso--no moustache, polished), who is the Metropolitan Opera's leading tenor. Tommasso hopes to marry his model Rosa, but her father, restaurant owner Pietro, wants her to find someone more settled and money-conscious, such as the greengrocer Lombardi down the street. Tommasso, he says, throws away his money, such as for a pair of tickets to take Rosa to the opera to see his famed cousin. After the opera, the cousins cross paths in the swanky Galeotto's restaurant, but when neither recognizes the other, Tommasso is generally mocked and Rosa believes him a liar and unworthy. Tommasso must recover his reputation and make a sale, preferably the Caroli bust to his cousin, in order to win Rosa back.

Dir: Edward José

Laura Ward a selfish girl steals a large sum of money, her twin sister Agnes is mistakenly accused of the crime and sent to prison. Meanwhile, Laura abandons her sweetheart, alcoholic architect Richard Leigh, to marry an elderly millionaire named William Benedict, but she soon renews her affair. When a detective catches the lovers together, Agnes, just released from prison, agrees to pose as Richard's mistress, thereby saving Laura's marriage. Through Agnes's influence, Richard is regenerated, and the two eventually marry. Later, however, Laura reappears, and Agnes finds Richard drinking and embracing her. In a rage, William shoots and kills Laura, but Agnes forgives her erring husband and takes him home.

Dir: Edward José

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

In the blossom time in spring, in the sunny southland, Anabel Lee returned home from the young ladies' finishing academy. Warner Richmond, the favorite of society and beloved by all the maids for miles around, received notice to come to his grandfather's home to stay with him during his last days. Warner did so and on his arrival was warned by his grandfather to forego the society of the fair sex, but Warner one day passed by where Anabel sat reading and to her he was her prince charming. Forced to marry Anabel, Warner insisted on keeping the marriage a secret on account of his grandfather's wishes. Just after the grandfather died, leaving Warner a large fortune, he became enamored with an opera singer of fame. Destroying all records of his marriage to Anabel, he then married the opera singer, but love in this case lasted until she secured all his money. Soon believing her husband dead. Anabel married the sweetheart of her childhood days. No cloud darkened the sky of their happiness until Warner came wandering in his drunken travels to the old countryside again. Attended in his delirium by Anabel's doctor husband, he gives out the story of his life. The doctor returns to find Anabel gone with her child. He follows. Warner in his delirium overturns a lamp and the house burns to the ground with all evidence to clear Anabel's name. But love finds the way.

Dir: Edward José

In the French town of Savenay live Arlette and her grandfather Chaupin, the proprietor of the inn. Richard Vale, an impoverished young American artist, comes to Savenay to sketch and lodges at the inn where he meets Arlette and induces her to pose for him. During this period, Arlette falls deeply in love with Richard, who is on the brink of starvation. When wealthy libertine and art connoisseur Prince Boissard arrives in Savenay and lusts after Arlette, he proposes to help Richard in return for the girl's consent to become his mistress. Arlette agrees, and Boissard, feigning an interest in Richard's work, sends the young artist to Italy to continue his education. A year passes and Richard returns, now a celebrated artist. Boissard then demands payment of Arlette, who reluctantly agrees to honor her debt. Before she can be dishonored, however, Boissard's servant Sarthe, who is devoted to Arlette, stabs his master, thus freeing the girl to marry her artist.

Dir: Edward José

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

After a harsh childhood, orphan Jane Eyre is hired by Edward Rochester, the brooding lord of a mysterious manor house, to care for his young daughter.

Dir: Edward José

Learning he has six months to live, the wealthy Simon De Gex decides to tell no one of his impending death and to spend his fortune madly. He breaks off his engagement to Eleanor Faversham, then is approached in a park by a dwarf and enlisted in a plot to kill the deserting husband of the beautiful Lola, a cat trainer at the London Hippodrome. The murder plans are carried out in Paris; the dwarf stabs Lola's husband and Simon departs, only to be overcome by his sickness. Selflessly Lola nurses him back to health, but, ridiculed as low-class by Eleanor and Dale, Simon's secretary, she returns to the theater. Cured by a daring operation, Simon sets out to find Lola. His search is rewarded but coincides with the reappearance of the demented dwarf. In a fury of rejection, the dwarf accidentally blinds his beloved. Simon devotes himself to Lola, but she resists his proposals until a second miraculous operation restores her eyesight and frees her to marry in good conscience.

Dir: Edward José

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

Leonora is the daughter of a poor lace-maker. She possesses a beautiful voice, but is not aware of the opportunity it offers her. Wealthy Americans Mr. and Mrs. Stuart discover its powers, and after her mother's death they adopt Leonora and her younger sister Nina. Shortly afterwards she blossoms forth in Paris as its idol. She is now "La Vecci," a much-admired and sought-after prima donna. One of her most ardent suitors is Count Nerval of Spain, whom she refuses to marry because of his unusually jealous disposition--although she does love him. His American cousin Phillip also becomes infatuated with the singer. Jealous of this new rival, Nerval almost forces Leonora to marry him. They depart for America for their honeymoon. Nina, accompanying them, meets young doctor Paul Spencer aboard ship and they fall in love. Leonora goes on tour in the States and when in the South receives an invitation to visit Phillip and his parents. He again makes love to her, but she remains faithful to her marriage vows, so fickle Phillip turns his attention on Nina. Jealous Nerval breaks with Leonora for the time being because of her presence in his cousin's home. Nina receives a letter from Paul saying that he is coming to visit. Leonora shows the letter to Phillip, asking her to discontinue favoring Nina with his attention. That night Phillip attempts to kiss the charmer; afraid, she tries to stab him with a dagger. He easily defends himself and seizes her in his arms and she faints, but when she recovers, she discovers Phillip dead. When Paul arrives, he conducts an investigation and proves that Leonora could not have inflicted the wound. Soon after, a Creole girl confesses to the deed. She had loved Phillip. Later Leonora and her husband are reunited. Motion Picture News, September 28, 1918

Dir: Edward José

Spoiled young heiress Lucy Gillam knows only a life filled with parties and flirtations until she falls in love with a man who loves only her money. She marries him, and after their child is born, she is confronted with life's harsh realities after her husband demands more and more money with which to support his mistress. When he tires of his other woman, he discards her and she kills herself. Suspicion for her death points to her ex-lover, and after much misfortune, Lucy is freed from the burden of her husband and faces life as a responsible adult.

Dir: Edward José

Floria Tosca, a famous Italian opera singer, suspects that her lover, Mario Cavaradossi, is unfaithful and secretly follows him to his villa on the outskirts of Rome. La Tosca is relieved to discover that Mario is harboring not another woman but Cesare Angelotti, a political prisoner. Her relief turns to despair, however, when Baron Scarpia, Rome's tyrannical chief of police, arrives and demands that Mario turn Cesare over to the authorities under penalty of torture. He refuses, but La Tosca, unable to endure Mario's screams, confesses. All three are arrested, and the baron threatens to have Mario shot unless La Tosca gives herself to him. She consents, but when Scarpia approaches her, she stabs him. Finding that Mario has been shot despite the baron's promise, she leaps from a high tower to her death.