Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of Mother Eternal: Cult Guide

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Laura Henderson, an orphan, is brought up by her aunt, Mary Sherman, who keeps a boarding house. Among the boarders is Angelo Angelini, an Italian violinist. Laura is infatuated with the handsome Angelo, who loves her, and they are engaged to be married. Angelo betrays the girl, and later leaves her, with the explanation that he is to make a western concert tour. A month later, the poor girl receives a letter from Angelo telling her that he has returned to Italy, where he has a wife and child. Later a daughter is born to Laura, who is named Ruth. Unable to obtain employment in her own town, the unfortunate mother abandons her child to the care of her Aunt Mary, and goes to New York. Ill and weak from hunger, the poor young mother is picked up in the street by Reverend Henry Bradley, who takes her to his home. Dr. Bradley and his mother offer Laura a home, and work as secretary to the minister. Later Dr. Bradley falls in love with Laura, and asks her to become his wife. Laura accepts his proposal, and she marries Dr. Bradley, without telling him that she has an illegitimate child, and she secretly sends money to her aunt for the support of her child, Ruth. Nineteen years later, Dr. Bradley is now chaplain of the City Prison of New York. They have a daughter, Aline, who is about to be engaged to Walter Jordon, who comes from one of the finest families in New York. Ruth, now a girl of 20 years, believes that Mary is her mother. One day she happens to find out through a letter that Laura sent to Mary, that she is not Mary's daughter. Ruth forces Mary to tell her who and where her mother is, and at last Mary confesses the truth. Ruth determines to go to New York and seek her mother. Meanwhile Angelo has returned to America and, under the assumed name of Angell, lives in New York with his son, Tony. The boy refuses to work and becomes one of the vilest of all human creatures, a "cadet." Tony pretends to rescue Ruth from an attack by one of his pals, prepared by himself, and the poor girl, believing him to be a decent man, accompanies him to a restaurant. Then Tony takes Ruth to his own room, telling her it is the home of his "highly respectable aunt." A letter sent by Tony to an accomplice, offering to sell the girl to him for white slavery in New Orleans, is seen by Ruth, who realizes her perilous position. She tries to escape from the room. Tony threatens her with a pistol, and in the struggle which follows Tony is shot dead. Angelo enters the room just as his son has been shot. The poor girl is arrested and taken to prison, where she meets Chaplain Bradley and tells him her sad story. Unaware that it is his own wife's daughter, he is helping, the chaplain takes Mrs. Sherman to visit Ruth in prison. Mrs. Sherman is confronted with a terrible situation. Laura's legitimate child, Aline, is celebrating her engagement to Walter Jordon in the magnificent home of the latter's parents. Mrs. Sherman decides it is her duty to the unfortunate Ruth to acquaint her mother with the terrible facts. Laura while celebrating the betrothal of her younger daughter, learns that the child of her first love languishes in prison charged with murder. The unfortunate mother becomes temporarily deranged. Aline, the younger daughter, on learning of her mother's disgrace, is heartbroken, breaks off the engagement with Walter, and later her dead body is found by her father and lover, the second victim of the Sins of the Parents. At the trial of Ruth for the killing of Tony, Angelo appears as a witness. The father is about to speak the words that will condemn his own daughter to the electric chair for the killing of his son, when a commotion in the rear of the court room causes him to be silent. Laura, the mother of the prisoner, has escaped from her nurse and has forced her way into the court room. She recognizes Angelo, the man who betrayed her 22 years ago. and who is now about to condemn his own daughter. Angelo now learns, for the first time, that his own daughter killed his son; he suffers keenly, refuses to speak. The half-demented mother is led out of the court room by her husband and court officers in a hysterical condition. The jury brings in a verdict of acquittal on the ground of self-defense. Ruth is free, but alone in a great city. Dr. Bradley takes Ruth into his home to her mother. Laura, realizing the noble stand of the minister, and feeling that she is unworthy of her husband she has deceived, decides to leave the house with her daughter, Ruth, in hope that the disgrace she brought upon her husband will be forgotten, but Bradley resigns as minister and insists upon Laura staying where he will stay. He folds both mother and daughter in his arms, gives them his blessing, thanks the Lord that to him it has been given the honor to help two suffering souls into the light. Angelo, suffering as the result of his youthful sins, decides to commit suicide, but has not the courage to do so. Bradley receives a reply from the board of directors of his congregation, stating that they have looked into the misfortune that has befallen upon his family and they congratulate him for his noble act, and ask him to remain with them as their minister. Bradley shows the letter to his wife. Laura, heartbroken, falls on her knees and begs forgiveness of her husband.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Ada Forbes loves Eugene Cory, but she marries Stapleton, a political boss who promises Ada's father a Senate seat in return for his daughter. After several years of an unhappy marriage, Ada leaves Stapleton and returns to Cory, now married to Alice Wood, to be his mistress. Alice finds out about the affair and confronts Ada, who promises never to see Eugene again. Then, Ada learns that her mother is dying. The double shock of losing Eugene and her mother brings on a breakdown, and Ada is put under a doctor's care. Her round-the-clock nurse falls asleep, however, and a half-insane Ada wanders away, falls into a river and drowns.

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

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Wealthy Richard Covington, although aging and lonely, distresses his children, Waverly and Beatrice, by marrying a heartless seductress named Fay Hope. Because Fay's extravagant spending threatens to ruin Richard, Beatrice confronts her, which prompts Richard, who is hopelessly in love with the beautiful vampire, to order his daughter from the house. Fay introduces her lover, "Lucky" Travers, into the Covington household as her brother, but Waverly catches them in each other's arms and, in a fit of insanity, shoots at Lucky. The bullet strikes and kills Fay, and Waverly is locked in an asylum, leaving Richard broken, penniless and completely alone. In New York, he finds work carrying sandwich boards that advertise a cabaret, where he sees Beatrice warmly conversing with Lucky. Beatrice consoles her distraught father by admitting that she now works for the Secret Service. After securing Lucky's arrest, Beatrice returns to her fiance, Rodman Daniels, who has arranged Waverly's release from the asylum, and the entire family is reunited.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Ignored by a husband who dedicates all his time to improving a universal language, Laurette Maxwell decides to try her youthful ambition of becoming an actress. Wealthy Charles Prescott offers to bankroll Laurette's debut and to clear all obstacles in her road to stardom, and Laurette files for a divorce from Maxwell on the grounds that their daughter Ruth is not his. Discovering the cause for her parents' divorce, Ruth decides to ensnare Prescott. Her mother discovers the affair and denounces Prescott who, in anger, assaults Ruth. Attempting to protect herself, Ruth kills Prescott and is arrested for the crime, but Laurette establishes on the witness stand that her daughter acted in self-defense. After Ruth is acquitted, Laurette confesses that Maxwell really is her father and the family is reunited.

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

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Despite the pleading of his wife Marion and his little daughter Vivian, Raymond Edwardes intensifies his affair with a charming adventuress named Lucille Stanton. Marion attends a reception with Frederick Barton one evening, leaving Raymond free to visit Lucille and leaving Raymond's younger sister Alice alone in the house. Bob Gardner, who is engaged to Raymond's elder sister Florence, rapes Alice, and that same evening, Raymond finds Frederick in Lucille's room. Realizing the great pain he has caused his wife, Raymond asks for Marion's forgiveness. Bob is killed in a fight with Frederick, whereupon his brother, Dick Gardner, offers to marry Alice to atone for Bob's wrong.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Victor Gilmore, a composer, is in love with his father Cyrus' secretary Dorothy Eldridge, but Dorothy marries his brother Robert, even though a doctor has told them that Robert can never father children. Dorothy, however, has never lost her hope to have children, and doesn't know that Robert is secretly supporting his former lover Flo Merrivale. The brothers' father eventually dies but leaves his estate to Robert, saying that he didn't believe that Victor was his son. This causes a huge rift between the brothers and a fight ensues, resulting in Victor's being thrown out of the house and family. Complications ensue.

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

Dir: Ivan Abramson

In order to provide for her widowed mother, Louise Mordyke, Ethel marries Arthur Woodridge, a wealthy philanthropist who is considerably older than she. Although she respects her husband, Ethel resumes an affair with Howard Rosedale, the husband of her cousin Helen. Helen hires a detective, who discovers the lovers at a roadhouse. Rushing from the inn, Ethel is caught in a thunderstorm, after which she contracts pneumonia and dies, repentant but unconfessed. Arthur grieves so deeply that Louise and Helen fear for his sanity, and when Louise learns that he is contemplating suicide, she reveals the truth about Ethel's infidelity. Arthur, incredulous, denounces her. Following Howard's sudden death, however, Helen confirms the story. Louise and Arthur marry, and Helen weds an old friend.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Rhoda Cortlandt, daughter of Theodore Cortlandt, a millionaire who is interested in charity, is beloved by Webster, son of Madeline Stuyvesant, a philanthropist who is Cortlandt's competitor. Burton Woodrow, employed by Cortlandt in order to send his consumptive mother to Colorado, steals $250 from his employer. He is detected and sent to prison for a year. Clarice Lee, a thief, is beloved by Chicago Jim, a gang leader. Mrs. Stuyvesant and Rhoda are visiting a poor family residing in the apartment adjacent to Clarice's. Chicago Jim discovers Clarice in the arms of Pugsy, a member of his gang, and beats her. Her cries reach Rhoda and Mrs. Stuyvesant, who go to her rescue. Jim escapes. Clarice, to work upon the sympathies of Mrs. Stuyvesant, declares that Jim beat her because she would not steal for him. Mrs. Stuyvesant takes Clarice to her home. Cortlandt, believing that Mrs. Stuyvesant has procured a million dollar contract through bribery, calls her a trickster in Webster's presence; he defends his mother. A quarrel ensues. Cortlandt orders Webster from his home. Clarice while in the home becomes infatuated with Webster, who ignores her. Hearing of his love for Rhoda, she persuades Pugsy, her admirer, to lure Rhoda to his room for the purpose of degrading her. Pugsy entices and attempts to assault her there. Rhoda, defending herself, is severely wounded and suffers great loss of blood. At the hospital to which she is taken the doctors declare that only a transfusion of blood will save her life. Webster, hearing of Rhoda's condition, offers his blood. The offer is refused by the stubborn and angry Cortlandt, who orders the doctors to advertise and offer $500 for the necessary blood. Burton, released from prison, unable to secure employment, reads the advertisement and applies at the hospital, where after a rest he is accepted and a quantity of his blood is transfused to Rhoda's veins. Before his discharge from the hospital Burton learns that the recipient of his blood is the daughter of the man who sent him to prison. Cortlandt and the Stuyvesants become reconciled. Burton in the presence of Rhoda offers to return to Cortlandt the money he stole. Rhoda prevents her father from accepting it, and insists that he re-employ Burton. Cortlandt grants Rhoda's wish. Mrs. Stuyvesant gives a reception in celebration of Rhoda's recovery, during which the engagement of Webster and Rhoda is announced. Rhoda is horrified by constantly recurring visions of Burton. Wherever she goes Burton appears before her, whatever she does recalls him to her mind. His vision constantly calls to her. She struggles against the thought, but realizes that with the blood given her by Burton has come love. Unable to restrain the call of his blood she surrenders herself to it and telephones asking him to visit her. He does so, and she confesses her love for him. Burton tells her that he loved her long before he was sent to prison, but that his past is a shadow that will darken her future. Rhoda pleads with Burton and declares that his shadow will fade in the warmth of her love. That evening Webster finds Rhoda in Burton's arms, and is horrified. Rhoda returns the engagement ring to Webster, telling him, "Condemn me if you will, Burton gave me blood, and with it came love." Webster, realizing the power of true love, sacrifices his own love for Rhoda's sake and takes back the returned engagement ring. Cortlandt enters the scene, learns the truth. He is shocked and in great excitement denounces and orders Burton from his house. Webster tells Cortlandt that his stubbornness of not permitting him to give his blood caused it all. He pleads and moves Cortlandt to consent to the marriage of his daughter to the man he sent to prison.

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

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Wealthy capitalist, Clinton Reynolds, and his wife, Laura, have lost their son, Arthur, kidnapped and possibly dead. Attempting to write a wrong in his factory, he adopts the daughter of one of his workers who is killed on site. The girl, Rose, grows up resentful of her adoptive father and as she grows older, seduces him in order to break up his marriage. Long lost Arthur returns and, finding his parents' married life in disarray, becomes romantically involved with Rose in order to end the relationship she has forged with his father. Reynolds comes to his senses and makes amends with Laura, at which point Arthur leaves Rose.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

After becoming a Supreme Court justice, Peter Graham is visited by Olive Martin, a singer from New Orleans, Louisiana, with whom he had an affair in his youth. Although Peter has been sending money to maintain Olive's silence and to support their son, she now sees an opportunity to join high society, and demands that Peter divorce his wife to marry her. Meanwhile, in Boston, Massachusetts, Olive's son, Harold, becomes engaged to Peter's daughter, Anita, but the young lovers are soon devastated by the news that they were both sired by the same man. Olive's dissolute brother-in-law, Thomas Donald, finds Peter on the brink of suicide and reveals that he is Harold's father. Thomas goes on to explain that Olive adopted the boy as a means to blackmail Peter. Harold and Anita marry, while Peter confesses to his wife and Olive leaves town.