Editor's Top Picks Following the Footsteps of Luck and Pluck: Cult Guide

Dir: Edward Dillon

A follies girl is courted by the son of an aristocratic family. The presence of this rough and ready showgirl in such sedate surroundings creates amusing situations. She brings with her to the household a sympathetic pet--a goldfish--to which she confides her troubles. When her wealthy suitor is called away on business, she learns of his younger brother, who, though he appears to be absorbed in his books, is more her type. She transforms him into her ideal and alienates the elder brother; her own wit brings about a happy ending in her prospective marriage to the younger brother.

Dir: Edward Dillon

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Never Say Quit perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Born on Friday the thirteenth with thirteen letters in his name, Reginald Jones has been plagued with bad luck his entire life. Attempting to escape his jinx, Reginald attends a chauffeur's ball, where, after he helps a girl whose companion is berating her, the girl hits Reginald for interfering. After Reginald loses at matching coins, is sold out in the stock market, and is fleeced of his money in a badger game, he loses his inheritance of $999,998.60 when he gets arrested for fighting, and misses his aunt's funeral. Reginald then boards a schooner and meets millionaire Professor Lattimore and his daughter Helen, supposedly there to look for buried treasure. After falling in love with Helen, Reginald discovers the ship captain's plot to hold Lattimore for ransom. Reginald fights off all the crew members and forces the wireless operator to signal a U. S. Destroyer, which arrives and saves them. Reginald and Helen marry.

Dir: Edward Dillon

A young girl, Rose Eastmen ( Besie Love ) lives with her lazy Uncle, who works as a janitor in a publishing house. Lacking education, both Rose and her Uncle are susceptible to the socialist ideas of writer Rudolph Creig. One day Rose encounters Jack Stevens the wealthy son of the owner of a publishing house, working on his car. She believes he is a common laborer, and she begins courting him. Through her exposure to Jack, Rose begins to realize the rich are not such an abominable people. Rudolph has also reached this conclusion after learning Stevens has published his book. Now bolstered by success and armed with a hefty royalty check, Rudolph is able to marry Rose.

Dir: Edward Dillon

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

His mind unbalanced by much reading about knight errantry and lack of sleep and food, Don Quixote decides to sally forth and right the wrongs of the world. The muddle-minded old idealist takes with him Sancho Panza, his stable man, who from then on vainly tries to dissuade his master from embarking upon all sorts of rash adventures. Notable among them is the episode of the windmills, which the Don thinks are devils, even after he has charged them and been carried around and around and dropped unconscious on the ground. When he recovers, Dorothea tells him of her affair with Don Fernando, which has forced her to leave home to avoid disgrace. He determines first of all to right the young woman's wrong and goes on to an inn, which he imagines is a castle. The maid-of-of-all-work he dubs the fairest lady in all Spain. One night at the inn is enough. The proprietor throws him and his man out the next morning. While riding along the road they meet several prisoners and their guards on the way to the galleys. Without hesitation the Don spurs his ancient steed, Rosinante, among them, and puts the guards to rout. It develops that one of the prisoners is Cardenio, who has been guilty of loving Lucinda against her father's will. Don Quixote offers to intercede in his behalf and together they start back. Cardenio goes ahead and arrives as his beloved is about to become the wife of Don Fernando. Thinking she has been faithless he seeks to end his life with the poison of an adder. The Don, arriving later, invades mansion and halts the wedding just in time. "How about Dorothea?" he asks, and Fernando cowers. Then the Don seeks Cardenio and brings him back to his lady. But Don Fernando is not so easily defeated. With his retainers he kidnaps Lucinda. A pursuit follows and there is much matching of steel when the two parties meet. Don Quixote, who has gone his way, incidentally rescuing Dorothea from a cruel master for whom she has been tending goats, arrives in the midst of the melee. He has become more insane on his favorite subject and every time he comes upon a prostrate form he rushes forward and claims the honor of slaying the villain. As the encounter becomes hotter a blunderbuss is brought into play and the Don is shot in the breast. While he is dragging himself to the inn of the fair Dulcinea, the scoundrel Don Fernando has been attacked by Cardenio. At length the latter is victorious and the body of Fernando crashes into a ravine. Dorothea, who has seen the struggle, goes to it as the others repair to the inn. There is a happy reunion between Lucinda and Cardenio and permission to wed is freely granted. Into this happy group staggers the Don. His faithful Sancho Panza and Dulcinea help him to the stable, discover the hole through his armor and try to staunch the wound. But all efforts fail. To the accompaniment of the merry making above the lovable old character expires in the straw and the devoted pair beside him grieves.

Dir: Edward Dillon

Grand Duke Alexis of Russia possesses two priceless emeralds, known as the Drums of Jeopardy, which allegedly exert a sinister power over their owner. They are willed to the duke's private secretary, Jerome Hawksley, who brings them to New York City and places them in the care of Banker Burrows. Bolshevik secret agent Gregor Karlov steals the jewels, kills Burrows, and kidnaps Jerome. The banker's daughter, Dorothy Burrows, assisted by Cutty, a member of the U.S. Secret Service, trail Karlov to a café and he is killed in the ensuing battle. Jerome recovers the jewels, and he marries Dorothy.

Dir: Edward Dillon

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

Traveling on a Pullman train are two strangers who, except for a difference in hair color, bear a striking resemblance to each other. Horace Barney, the heir to a fortune, is on his way to a mental sanitarium, accompanied by his unscrupulous guardian Maurice Claypool and Claypool's accomplices, Dr. Wallace and Thomas Farrel. Jack Trevor, an automobile salesman, is substituted for Barney when the train crashes and Barney is killed. When Trevor awakens from his unconscious state, he finds himself in a mansion and addressed as Barney. He falls in love with Helen Townsend, Barney's cousin who is next in line for the inheritance. Trevor realizes the fraud and sets out to save the estate for Helen. Claypool, who wants to marry Helen, tries to declare Trevor insane and commit him to an institution. A series of fights, chases, and misunderstandings ensue, but Trevor finally forces a confession from Claypool and wins both Helen and the fortune.

Dir: Edward Dillon

Mr. Goode, a wealthy old gentleman, takes his wife and daughter, Evelina, out for a spin in their automobile, but throwing in the wrong lever the machine backs into the side of the road and burns up. They continue their journey on foot. Meanwhile, Foxy Monte, a polished crook, has stolen a beautiful car that has been left standing at the curb in a nearby town, and as he whizzes by he sees the Goode family. He stops and offers them a lift. Of course, they gladly accept. And while the ride is continued he persuades Mr. Goode to buy the roadster. Mr. Goode is so easy, in fact, that Monte determines to impose on him again. When Goode is called out of town on business he makes the trip in his new machine. As an alarm has been sent out to the police by the original owner of the car he is immediately apprehended and thrown into jail. His family, believing he has been detained on business, make no inquiry about him, but go on entertaining Foxy Monte, who has come into their circle disguised by full beard and another alias. Ever making the best of his condition, Goode has the jail refurnished and otherwise contributes to the comfort of the inmates. Upon leaving at expiration of his sentence, he invites the jailbirds to come and visit him at the first opportunity. Shifty Ed and his best girl, Shorty Sal, come to the Goode home to pay that visit just as Mr. Goode is entertaining a very fashionable house party, Monte in the number. Sal recognizes Monte, and he, realizing he is in danger, informs the hostess that Ed and Sal are notorious crooks. Then he persuades Evelina, whose hand has been refused him by Mr. Goode, to elope with him. It is at this point that Ed Ed and Sal make a big return for the kindness of Mr. Goode, and there is a thrilling finish.

Dir: Edward Dillon

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

Anita Gray is the spoiled daughter of a millionaire. Returning home from a party, her car breaks down and she is picked up by a stranger, who sells her his car for a diamond bracelet. The car has been stolen and the police arrest her, but she escapes and takes refuge on a freighter bound for China. She has no money and has to work her way there. Her father learns of her destination and hires Hamlin to bring her safely home. Meanwhile, she has taken a job as a croupier at the dice table in a casino. Datto recognizes her and kidnaps her for ransom. But Hamlin is looking for her.

Dir: Edward Dillon

"Waffles," the waitress at "Coffee Dan's" hash-house, is selected by Bert Gallagher and Clara Johnstone, a pair of crooks, to be represented as a missing heiress whose story they have read about in the papers. "Waffles" herself believes the story, as she was orphaned early and remembers little of her childhood, and by adroit coaching is able to convince the estate's none too bright lawyers of the validity of her claim. With this unlimited money, poor little "Waffles" nevertheless has only three desires: to buy the little restaurant for her old benefactor, Shorty Olson, to publish the music written by her lover, Carl Miller, a young, eccentric, absent-minded musical genius, and to adopt the baby that a Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is too poor to care for. But "Waffles" establishes Shorty Olson as chef in her mansion, and Miller is a frequent caller until Mrs. Johnstone in secret convinces him that it is his duty to give up the girl who is destined for high society. Without explaining to "Waffles," he discontinues his visits. Mrs. Johnstone is thus able to induce "Waffles" to promise to marry the crook, Gallagher, but just before the ceremony old Shorty Olson overhears a dispute between Gallagher and a gangster over loot, and thus discovers Gallagher's real character. Shorty Olson is caught eavesdropping, and the crooks shut him into the garage. Carl Miller has been mooning at the house of his lost love, and sees Shorty Olson put into the garage. He goes over and knocks out the gangster on guard and the liberated Shorty goes for the police and Carl goes for the marriage service, which has just begun. "Waffles" sees his face at the window and faints. She is revived and the service is begun again when Carl forces his way in and battles the bridegroom. The police arrive just in time, and the crooks go to jail. The lawyer comes with the real heiress, and "Waffles" goes back to the hash house. For the crooks' arrest the three are given a reward of $1,500, so Shorty Olson buys "Coffee Dan's." Carl publishes his music, and "Waffles" adopts Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's baby.

Dir: Edward Dillon

Agatha Kent inherits a southern mansion from her maiden aunt, Agatha. When she advertises for boarders, Burton Forbes, who is blind and alone in the world, recalls his visits to Aunt Agatha as a boy and rents a room. Assuming the roles of her aunt and an Irish maid, young Agatha looks after her guest, who is distressed over a broken engagement. His gratitude for her kindness ripens into love, which she reciprocates, unaware that his sight has returned. A lucky turn on the stock market results in the restoration of Burton's fortune, and when his former fiancée asks to resume their engagement, he rejects her for Agatha.