Must-Watch List in the Vein of Men of Steel: Cult Guide

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Maud March, the rebellious daughter of a a millionaire, goes to New York to see her sweetheart Geoffrey who left town years ago. Her aunt Carolyn wants Maud to marry her son Reggie and sends the girl's brother Percy after her to act as chaperon. Maud, trying to escape, enters a taxi where she meets handsome composer George Bevan. The man falls in love with the young lady who, when she sees Geoffrey has become fat and ugly, soon agrees to marry George.

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

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

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Cardinal Mercier protects the altar of his church from desecration when German forces invade the Belgian city of Louvain during World War I. Although the soldiers commit widespread atrocities, the cardinal does his best to protect the townspeople. Cardinal Mercier's young ward, Liane de Merode, is betrothed to Belgian officer Maurice Lambeaux, but the German governor general tries to gain possession of her against the cardinal's will. Despite the plotting of the governor general, Maurice breaks through the German lines in a disguise. Secretly the cardinal marries the young couple and smuggles them across the border to France.

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

Twenty-five years ago Jacques Revilly was found on the church steps in a small French village. He grows up into a fine strapping young farmer. His abstinence from rough play after his farm work makes him unpopular, he surreptitiously cultivates his skill at painting within the sacred portals of the church. One of Jacques tormentors discover his art attempts, which suggest a new mode of attack, and then his co-workers make an issue of a little delinquency and refuse to stay at the farm unless he is discharged. Jacques, enraged at this injustice, leaves the hamlet forever. Three years later in Paris Jacques is able to produce some very good canvases. His unkempt appearance, his sulkiness and his apparent distaste for the society of his fellowmen have won for him the nick-name of "The Beast." He goes to the Café Brasserie Murger where the artists are enjoying themselves, among them being Horace Chapron, the bully of the Student Quarter. A dance is being planned for the evening, but the girls do not wish to have "The Beast" present. Jacques that night, knowing nothing about the party enters the café and as usual takes his drink by himself. He is invited to join the party by another student named Varny, but says he prefers to be by himself. Toward morning a girl who has been dancing on a table falls from it, landing on Varny, injuring his arm. Jacques takes him home and nurses him back to health. With the recovery of his friend, who joins his old companions, Jacques realizes anew that in this world he stands alone. He goes to a saloon and as he is drinking he prays God to give him the companionship that his soul craves for. On his way home he finds a frail young girl lying apparently dead in the snow. He carries her to his home, confident that his prayer has been answered. Under the careful ministration of his friend, Varny, and the caretaker, the girl convalesces. Her story relates her unsuccessful attempts to find work after her mother's death. Her strength gave out and she fell almost lifeless in the street. Jacques gives her his room, while he goes across the hall to Varny. Through the aid of the caretaker, Marguerite secures a position in Madame Celeste's millinery shop. Jacques begins to take an interest in his physical appearance. One day Prosper, one of the students, announces that he has just seen "The Beast" sober, clean-shaved and neatly dressed. His friends are incredulous, so he says he will prove it. A few days later when passing under Marguerite's window a book comes down on his head, it having been pushed off the window sill by the girl when dusting. Prosper returns the book to Marguerite, and is about to kiss her when Jacques appears. Prosper is ordered out of the place, and tells the students that Marguerite is beautiful and virtuous. Horace, another student, wagers a dinner that she will be his a month from that date, which, by the way, will be the wedding day of Jacques and Marguerite. One month later the students are all assembled for dinner, Jacques, who has not seen his companion for over a month, enters the café and asks if he may join the party, not knowing the nature. Horace then toasts "His Marguerite, who works in Madame Celeste's shop." As there is but one Marguerite in the shop in question Jacques demands that Horace retract the toast. Horace shows her ring which Jacques insists he stole. Horace challenges Jacques to a duel. Jacques rushes to Marguerite's room, where he finds her directing a letter to him. She hands the missive to him. He reads, "You'll never see me again. I am a defiled creature." Jacques bids her leave. He makes his will leaving all to Marguerite. Marguerite begs his friend to get Jacques to finish reading her letter. Jacques consents and so Varney finishes reading the confession of how she had gone home with Madame Celeste who had feigned sickness, was introduced to a man she called her brother, that after drinking her wine she was powerless to move, and next morning she found herself. Jacques resolves to kill Horace. Varny asks Jacques if he will not see Marguerite. He does, but when Marguerite hears that a duel is to be fought begs Jacques not to go, as she is sure he will be killed. Jacques is not to be swerved from his purpose. On the field of honor Horace says that he is in the wrong and wants to apologize. Jacques strikes him in the face. They fire. Jacques is shot, but not mortally and the doctor tells him he will soon be all right. He is carried back to his rooms. There is a reconciliation, and so Jacques at last has his heart's desire.

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Once a wealthy man, John Pollard now resides in reduced circumstances in Washington, D.C. with his pretty daughter Polly. Despite the poor conditions, Polly manages to move in good social circles and meets multimillionaire George Singleton and Lieutenant Richard Travers, at the home of Mrs. Madison Derwent. Also at the Derwent mansion is Baron Wootchi, a Japanese diplomat trying to obtain valuable plans that are in Travers' possession. Old Pollard owes Singleton money and tries to persuade his daughter to marry the millionaire. Polly refuses and accepts Travers' proposal instead, until her father informs her that Singleton can seize their house unless Polly pays off the debt by becoming his wife. Meanwhile the Baron offers Pollard $50,000 to produce the documents in Travers' keeping. Pollard steals the papers and goes to a roadhouse to turn them over to the Baron. Discovering the theft, Polly follows and confronts the Baron at gunpoint. Finally, Travers learns the truth of the affair, pays Pollard's debt to Singleton and wins Polly.

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

Bess Hulette is disappointed and feels ignored when her husband Aleck accepts a partnership in an ad agency owned by Stephen Graves. She tells her neighbor, Mrs. Leonard, about her predicament. One day a young woman, Dorothy Delamore, is injured in a car accident just outside the Hulettes' home. Bess meets Dorothy's brother, Jack, who is attracted to her. Noticing his attraction, Mrs. Leonard--who is cheating on her own husband--urges Bess to take up with Jack. Still feeling ignored by her husband, Bess accepts an invitation to a party at Jack's house, but finds out that things aren't exactly what they seem.

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Adoree, a young Belgian girl, half-mad by the war horrors that she has experienced,is found by the Hudsons, a wealthy American couple who take the amnesia-stricken girl back to the United States with them. Soon after, Roger Hudson is called away to business in South America, and when his wife Claire discovers that Adoree is pregnant, she convinces the girl to allow the Hudsons to claim the child as theirs. The child is born and Dr. Thorn cables Hudson to come home because his wife has given birth. Meanwhile, Adoree, longing for her baby, steals the infant and disappears. Finding the girl's coat near a lake, Hudson assumes that she has drowned and dynamites the lake in order to locate her body. The explosions restore Adoree's memory, and she recalls her marriage to the Vicomte Jean de Michelet, who happens to be in town raising money for Belgian relief. The vicomte is brought to his wife and the family is happily reunited.

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

Dr. David Carewe's already unhappy marriage is made worse when his wife Helen's refuses to have children. Helen poses as the wife of gambler Robert Spencer in Europe, while David falls in love with Spencer's wife Madeline. When news reaches David that Spencer and his supposed wife have been killed, he weds Madeline and they have a daughter, June. Helen suddenly reappears, but David renounces her and continues to live happily with Madeline. Eighteen years later, June falls in love with a young man who is revealed as the son of Spencer and a woman to whom he was married before Madeline. Rather than ruin the budding romance, Madeline asks Helen to pose as June's mother, which restores June's name and allows the young lovers to marry.

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A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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Violetta D'Arcy turns down the proposal of Jack Harrington, whom she believes to be poor, and instead marries the wealthy Robert Van Ellstrom. Her husband's fortune, however, is not sufficient to cover her gambling debts, so she pawns her sister-in-law's jewels and accepts money from Jack's father, who wishes to be introduced into society. When Harrington, Sr. makes improper advances towards Violetta, Robert fights him, and in the struggle, Harrington, Sr. shoots Jack in the arm. Believing that he has killed his son, Harrington commits suicide. Despondent and ashamed, Violetta tries to drown herself, but Robert intercedes and takes her in his arms.