Must-Watch List in the Vein of Love's Old Sweet Song: Cult Guide

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

Beanie and Effie Deans are the two daughters of old David Deans, a thrifty Scotchman and strict church member, living near Edinburgh. David has reared his daughters in accordance with his rigid and austere ideas of life. The two sisters are as different in appearance and mind as two people could possibly be. Jeanie is steady, calm, noble and unaffected in dress and manner, while little Effie is gay and flighty, fond of finery and flirtations. Arriving at womanhood, Effie falls in love with young Georgie Robertson, the profligate son of a rich minister. Georgie has wandered far from his father's home and fold, and in his love for adventure becomes entangled with a band of smugglers. Under promise of marriage, Georgie often meets Effie secretly and gains her love and trust, but on his way to their prospective marriage is waylaid and arrested, in company with the leader of the smugglers, and thrown into prison. Effie has kept her family in ignorance of her love and betrothal, and has withheld from Jeanie even a greater secret, that she is to become a mother. Crushed by her misfortune, little Effie manages to secure a position in Edinburgh, and there receives word from Georgie, in prison, to go in her hour of trouble to friends of his who will care for her. She goes to these people, Madge Wildfire and her mother, a strange, eccentric pair, the mother a wicked old hag, the daughter demented through grief over her dead babe. They shelter Effie while her own little one is born, but the crazed Madge steals the young infant, leaving it alone by the roadside. The child is rescued by strangers, but is lost to Effie, who finally returns home, still guarding her sad secret. And there, for a time, she finds peace and quiet. But the old hag, fearing lest Effie accuse Madge of stealing the child, determines to accuse Effie of killing her own babe. Effie is torn from her dazed and grief-stricken family and thrust into prison, awaiting trial. During this lapse of time Robertson has escaped from prison, and incited a riot to rescue the smuggler-leader, who is popular among the town folks. Learning that Effie, too, is in the prison, Robertson also strives to effect her release. To his alarm and surprise, Effie refuses to leave the prison until her innocence is proved, and he is forced to leave without her. Desperate, he remembers the old Scotch law to the effect that if the accused has told any of her family that she is to become a mother, the statement is accepted as an evidence that she does not intend the death of her child. Robertson therefore writes Jeanie, begging her to meet him at midnight at an old church, and bidding her tell no one why he wishes to see her. This note he gives to Mr. Butler, a young minister, who loves Jeanie and is loved by her. Butler bears the note to Jeanie, demanding to know the reason for this appointment, but she steadfastly refuses to tell him, causing an estrangement between them. Jeanie meets Robertson, and he pleads with her to lie in court and thus save her sister. Meanwhile, Butler has been questioned by the authorities, on the occasion of a visit to Effie, as to his acquaintance with the escaped prisoner, Robertson, and is forced to reveal the contents of the note he bore to Jeanie. A searching party goes in pursuit of Robertson, led by Madge Wildfire, who knows the district better than the others. Madge divines the men mean danger to Robertson, whom she admires, and warns him with a wild song, so that he escapes in time, but without having secured Jeanie's promise. Jeanie visits Effie in prison, and is again begged to tell one little lie to save her sister's life, but she cannot escape her slavery to truth and honor, and refuses. At the trial Effie is condemned to die. Jeanie then goes barefoot to London and begs the Queen for her sister's life, telling her all. Though they offer the pardon in exchange for Robertson's hiding place, she staunchly refuses to reveal it. Her loyalty and strength appeal to the Queen's sympathies, and she grants the pardon. Stopping for nothing, she hastens back to the prison, and reaches the place of execution just in time. And so Jeanie saves her sister's life without the blight of having told a lie.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

A successful stage actress with a hidden past as a criminal is kept on the path of righteousness by a benefactor.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of In the Bishop's Carriage perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

News is received by Sir Jeoffrey, a dissolute roué, whose contempt for the other sex extends even to his own daughters, of the arrival of another female child in the family. The mother dies shortly after, and the child, Clorinda, is brought up among the servants without a guiding hand. True to his vow to ignore his offspring, Sir Jeoffrey does not come in contact with Clo, until her sixth year, when he finds her playing with his powder horn in the great hall of his castle, Wildair, and sternly upbraids her. The child, who has inherited her father's courage and strength of will, shows no fear, and grasping a riding crop beats Sir Jeoffrey with all the fury of her tiny wrath. Her spirit and daring attract Sir Jeoffrey's attention, and he is delighted to find the child his own. From that moment, he keeps her in his own company, dressed in boy's clothing to obscure her sex, a member of his wanton circle. She grows up in this atmosphere of debauchery, and learns to swear, smoke and drink. Years later, at a hunting lodge, she meets the Duke of Osmonde and other great gentlemen, who are shocked at her male attire and masculine manners. In a spirit of pious benevolence, Lord Twenlow sends his chaplain to Wildair Hall to censure Sir Jeoffrey for permitting his daughter to grow up in this wild style. Clo overhears the Chaplain's remonstrances and realizes the true significance of her reckless habits. Meantime, her notoriety has reached London, and Sir John Oxon, the beau ideal of the town, lays a wager that he will win the heart of Clo, not as a hoyden, but as a woman. He arrives at Wildair Hall on Clo's birthday-night, and banters her on her claims to masculine prowess. Stung by his derision to prove she has all the attributes of a man, she challenges him to a duel, in which Sir John Oxon is badly worsted. However, his sarcasm has had definite effect and at the striking of the midnight hour, she gives the toast to the assembled noblemen: "Behold me for the last time clad in trousers." Later she appears in the Hall dressed in all the finery of a lady of quality, and from that moment bends every effort to attain that title legitimately. Sir John Oxon piles all his wiles to win her untutored heart, and she finally falls a victim to his flattery. Secretly she meets him in the rose garden, but publicly she slights him in the great halls. Nevertheless, Oxon wins her confidence, and she bestows her first kiss upon his lips, but not without a price, for at that moment he steals one of her raven curls, the proof of his wager. He hastens back to London to boast of his conquest, but in an intoxicated moment he hides the curl for safe-keeping, forgetting where. Clo waits for his return and is shocked when she receives news from London that he is to wed a wealthy lady of title. At this critical moment in her life the old Earl of Dunstanwolde asks her hand in marriage, and piqued at having thrown her affections so idly away, she accepts. A half hour later, she meets the Duke of Osmonde, and recognizes in him the man she loves. Faithful to her promise, she marries the Earl of Dunstanwolde, and becomes his devoted wife until he dies two years later. Sir John Oxon, having failed to make his match, and aware that Clo now possesses wealth, influence and position, tries to win back the heart he had so ruthlessly cast aside. But Osmonde has triumphed over her affections, causing jealousy and hatred to creep into the heart of Oxon. Chance places again in his hand the lost curl, which he holds over her head as a silken sword. Stunned by the fear that she will lose the love of Osmonde through the accusing evidence of the curl in an intensely dramatic scene in which Oxon attempts to force his embraces upon her, she strikes him across the temple with her riding crop. He falls to the floor. She lashes him, the pale still body lies there, dead. At that moment guests arrive, she conceals the body under the couch, and in the dead of night she drags it down into the deep cellar. For years afterwards, she atones for her sin by paying Oxon's debts, consoling the women had he wronged, and in other ways undoing the evil he had wrought.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

A peasant girl sent to make a claim on her family's ancestral home in England's Wessex is seduced and left with child by its current owner.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

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

Arthur Stillman, the senior member of the firm of Stillman and Thornton, cotton goods manufacturers of Rockton, Mass., has closed his mills under the pretense that he cannot obtain cotton to operate, but really because he has conceived the plan of secretly buying cotton and storing it for the rise in price that he knows will come. The town of Rockton is entirely dependent upon the mills for its existence and the closing of the mills causes great suffering and even starvation. Dell Hamilton, daughter of an old mill dyer and a favorite with her people by reason of her sweet character and true sympathy with them, is probably the one in Rockton who suffers most. Her lover, Sam Lloyd, in despair at his inability to provide for his mother and sick sister, receives a note from a friend suggesting that if he can get to Springdale, a town nine miles distant, that he may get a job as fireman in a certain mill. On his way home, he accidentally comes upon a large warehouse which he learns is filled with cotton bales, and upon careful inquiry he finds that the cotton is being stored there by Stillman and Thornton. In a flash the true state of affairs is recognized by him and spurred on by bitter anger he makes his way back to Rockton, where he meets some of his mates and makes known his discovery. The news spreads throughout the town and groups of mill hands gather here and there voicing their indignation. Bill Slinger, a great strapping big-hearted fellow and a favorite among them is selected as a leader to get them either justice or revenge. Dell, in horror, goes to Stillman's house to warn him of his danger. She pleads with Stillman to open the mills and give work to the people and tries to soften his heart with her stories of the condition of the people. Stillman, whose passion for the girl has been growing stronger day by day, finally tells her that he will open the mills upon one condition, that is that she marry him. Stillman hastily arranges an illegal marriage with Dell. The girl believes she is to become his lawful wife, but Stillman has no such intention. The ceremony is performed and they repair to Stillman's home in the country. Dell writes her father of her marriage to Stillman, but he intercepts the letter and substitutes one supposed to come from a certain friend saying that Dell will not be home that night because she is going to watch by the body of the dead boy, Bennie. In the meantime Stillman's love for the girl is growing genuine and she becomes the one thing in the world that he desires and his one fear is that she may learn the secret of the illegal life. Dell returns to the mill and is indignantly repulsed by her former friends. Her father in a bitter scene renounces her and in utter dejection she finds her way to the boiler room of the mill seeking Sam, from whom she at least expects sympathy. She meets with the same treatment at Sam's hands and in fact is informed by this that he has entirely forgotten her and is to be married to another. Dell has heard the conversation between Stillman and Sam and a revelation comes to her. She realizes the true condition. She knows that Stillman is the real love and slowly and sadly she walks to him as she asks him to take her back.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

Snow White, a beautiful girl, is despised by a wicked queen who tries to destroy her. With the aid of dwarves in the woods, Snow White overcomes the queen.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Tess of the D'Urbervilles perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

In the days of romance when fortune and glory were carved by the sword, Basil Jennico, the descendant of a proud and haughty house, walking among the old ancestral chambers, dreams of his gallant forebears and their daring deeds performed for the smile of a lady fair. Inspired by his lofty heritage and the atmosphere of nobility and bravery in which he has been reared, Basil longs for love and adventure. At this romantic period of Basil's life, his aged uncle, the lineal head of his house, dies, and makes Basil swear by the sword that he will always uphold the pride of Jennico. Basil becomes Lord of Tollendhall and master of the broad acres of the Duchy of Lausitz, but titles, estates and splendor do not compensate for the absence of love. Princess Ottilie, a beautiful, whimsical maiden, is urged by her guardian, the Earl of Dornheim, to marry Prince Eugen, a worthless rogue, whom Ottilie fears and loathes. To avoid marrying Eugen, the Princess affects her escape from the castle in the guise of her maid, Marie, who follows after her mistress. The two are overtaken by a storm and seek the shelter of Jennico Castle. Marie is introduced to Jennico as the Princess, but Jennico falls madly in love with Ottilie, whom he believes to be the maid. Love and pride struggle for supremacy. Jennico is heart-broken, because his sworn duty to maintain the dignity of his house prohibits his marriage to the maid. The willful, fascinating maid intimates to Jennico that the Princess admires him, and, repressing love for duty, he courts the "princess." The marriage is arranged. Princess Ottilie and her maid confer and arrange to change places at the altar. Jennico greets his bride, heavily veiled, but when at last he looks upon her face he sees the piquant, mocking Ottilie and thinks he has married the maid. Love bids him accept his happiness, but his pride asserts itself and he resents the supposed deception. Ottilie, noticing his anger and piqued because he is not content with her, regardless of her apparent low rank, leaves him. Desperate for the love of the absent and tantalizing beauty, he seeks the supposed maid, encounters the bitter enmity and jealousy of the defeated Prince Eugen and his trusted force; but, despite all opposition and against all odds, he wins his way to Ottilie's heart at his sword's point, to find that valor has not only won him a heart of gold, but a title that adds luster to the pride of Jennico.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J. Searle Dawley

Leah's father taught her from early childhood to steal. Attempting to commit a robbery at the home of Paul Sylvaine, she's caught by Sylvaine; instead of treating her as a thief and turning her over to the police, he has an extraordinary interview with her. Sylvaine has faith in the innate goodness of human nature, and this faith is strengthened by Leah's confession that her father has taught her to steal and that she wants to go somewhere to forget the past and begin life anew. An adroit complication is here introduced that increases the suspense: The brother of the girl that Sylvaine is to marry, returning from a drunken spree, enters Sylvaine's apartments and steals the jewels that Leah was to have taken. Sylvaine believes that he was duped by Leah, who after all his kindness and forbearance, fulfilled her job before she left. But eventually Sylvaine learns that the theft was committed by his fiancée's brother. Leah is exonerated, and just to help sentimental matters along, the engagement between Sylvaine and his fiancée is suddenly terminated. Sylvaine seeks Leah and finds her living far from Paris, a redeemed and regenerated woman. Ha asks her to marry him; she consents, and the jewels that brought her into Sylvaine's home and into contact with his refining influence are bestowed upon her as a wedding gift.