Hand-Picked Alternatives Movies That Echo the Spirit of Mother Love...

Dir: Georg Jacoby

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Georg Jacoby

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

Theodore Reibeth, a medical student, is introduced to Mlle. Aut Nissen in a moving picture studio where she is taking one of the leading roles. He is attracted to her by her unusual beauty and charm. Circumstances later make it possible for him to see her frequently at her home, and he falls in love with her. Mlle. Nissen is very fond of animals and has in her apartments a private collection of lions which she shows to him. Reibeth's graduation is at hand when he receives a letter from his brother telling him that through unfortunate investments their fortune has been lost. In this predicament Mlle. Nissen comes to his aid and lends him enough money to finish his studies, which he accepts and graduates with high honors. Later at a reception Reibeth sees Mlle. Nissen flirting with another man. He protests very strongly and the controversy causes a rupture which separates them. Years pass and he almost forgets the celebrated actress. His wedding announcement in one of the papers, however, comes to the attention of Mlle. Nissen who asks him to call. He does so and the old love returns. His faith in his former love is still so great that he allows himself to be blindfolded by her and led into one of the lower portions of the house. When he tears the blindfold from his eyes he discovers he is in the den of lions. With death in a terrible form almost upon him he manages to escape. Mlle. Nissen seeing him free makes her own life a penance for the tragic deed she had planned.

Dir: Georg Jacoby

A woman of the Latin Quarter, who has had numerous love affairs, flees from the wild life of Paris to bury her past in self-exile in South America.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

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

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

Dir: William Parke

Bruce Wendell, the son of West Virginia coal mine owner James Wendell, graduates from West Point and prepares to lead a fighting unit to the front during World War I. As his father lies dying, however, he convinces Bruce to remain at home and guard the mine. Bruce's fiancée Ann Blair assumes that he is a coward and breaks off their engagement, but her brother Bobbie remains Bruce's loyal friend. Meyer, a German agent, persuades railroad president Parrish to refuse to transport Wendell's coal, but when Bruce adamantly refuses to close the mine, the spy's men decide to blow it up. While Ann is being abducted by Meyer, Bobbie is buried in an explosion at the mine. Bruce rescues Bobbie and then sends a plea to Lieutenant Parrish to rescue Ann. Meyer and his gang are captured and Ann renews her vow of love to Bruce.

Dir: Charles Horan

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

While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.

Dir: Georg Jacoby

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Georg Jacoby

Bulgaria at the beginning of the 20 century. A village in Macedonia.Bogdan Stimov is suspected of a murder which he has not committed. On his wife Anna's urgent request he resolves to flee the country. America. Known as Stimens, Bogdan has risen to the position of director of a munitions factory. The First Wold War breaks out. The Italian Eteli incites his compatriots against the Austrian and German workers at the factory. Stimov takes their side and is dismissed together with his friends Max and Friedrich. Eteli's sister Anna is in love with Max. With her help all four obtain the necessary paper and board a Swedish ship. Eteli gets in touch with the captain of an Italian mail-boat which overtakes and detains the fugitives. The captives manage to escape in a boat. They are rescued by a German submarine. Max, Anna and Friedrich go to Germany. In Bukgaria Stimov's estate has been seized by the invaders. One of them wants to marry Stimov's daughter Maritsa against her will. Bogdan arrives on the wedding day. Under his leadership the peasants rise in revolt. Anna is hiding with friends while Bgdan, Maritsa and his son Peter go to Sofia. At the palace Stimov kneels before the King and tells him the story of his life. He is pardoned and joins the army. Peter is an army volunteer and Maritsa becomes a nurse. The Serbian forces have been driven out of Macedonia. Stimov's estate have been into a field hospital. Among the wounded is Max. Eteli appears too and fires at Maritsa. Max and a young soldier jump on him. The bullet hits the young soldier. A doctor unbuttons his tunic to discover that this is a girl in disguise. Etelirecognizes his sister Anna. A military parade. Stimov receives a medal from the King. Together with Peter he returns to his village where they are greeted with joy.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.