Top-Tier Alternatives Exploring the Legacy of Mrs. Balfame: Cult Guide

Dir: Frank Powell

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Frank Powell

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

Hedda Gabler, the degenerate daughter of a drunken, dueling father, has just returned with her husband, George Tesman, from their honeymoon. Hedda, who possesses an uncanny affection for her father's pistols, lives in jealous watchfulness over Ejlert Lovberg, a former lover whom she often pictures in Tesman's place, in her imagination. Lovberg, while under the positive influence of Thea Elvsted, has written an important book, and Hedda, learning this, sets out to recapture Lovberg's affection, whereupon he takes to drinking, loses the manuscript, and is cast into despair. Tesman finds the manuscript, which Hedda then obtains from him. Lovberg then breaks with Thea and goes to Hedda. She shows him her pistols; he takes one and goes to Thea's home where, in her arms, he shoots himself. Hedda, after burning the manuscript that she regards as the child of Lovberg and Thea, shoots herself as well.

Dir: Frank Powell

Dr. Fernandez is believed by Mendoza, the military governor of Mexico, to possess hypnotic powers. Mendoza is in love with Dr. Fernandez's daughter Zora. When Zora displays no love for him, Mendoza assumes that the father is responsible for the failure of his suit. So great becomes the hatred between the two that when a faction of insurrectionists arises, the doctor places himself at its head and leads it against the Government. Dr. Fernandez is killed in battle. Meanwhile, the Governor's daughter Dolores suffers from somnambulism. While she is anxious to be cure, she dislikes to inform her father or her lover that she is so afflicted. Finally her old nurse makes the fact known to Zora, who possesses the hypnotic power that was her father's. Dolores submits to treatment at Zora's hands and is cured, Zora unaware that Dolores is engaged to Riques--Zora's sweetheart. When she does learn that the wedding day is set, she goes into a rage and contrives to get into the palace by night and hypnotizes Dolores. Shortly thereafter, Zora is denounced as a witch and carried away by an angry mob to be burned at the stake. Just before the torch is applied, the old nurse makes known to the Governor that his daughter has the habit of sleepwalking and is in a trance from which she cannot be roused. She also informs him that only person who can cure Dolores is Zora. At the last instant, the Governor stays the burning of Zora and promises her freedom if she will bring Dolores from her lethargic state. Zora, believing that the Governor is acting in good faith, goes to the palace and awakens Dolores. When she is found to be safe, the Governor goes back on his word and commits Zora to prison. She escapes, however, and Riques, who realizes that he loves Zora more than Dolores, runs away with her. The two are captured after a fight, and in the end Zora is put to death.

Dir: Frank Powell

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

Young society rake Gerard Buckland spies a pretty girl walking down the street. As he tries to figure out a way to approach her, he sees a disreputable-looking man surreptitiously hand her a diamond necklace, which she hides on her person before fading into the crowd and disappearing from sight. Later that day he visits a friend's home, and is astounded to meet that same girl. During their conversation she claims that, as a lark, she picks her friends' pockets of valuables and gives them back later--but Gerard doesn't quite buy it. It turns out that she is, in fact, not what she says she is, but not in the way Gerard thinks.

Dir: Frank Powell

James Wadsworth sets his sights on lovely society girl Anna Dalton and determines to marry her. To achieve that goal, he follows her everywhere she goes, including on a ship to South America. He comes up with a plan to make her love him: he throws her overboard, follows her over the side, and swims with her to a deserted island. His somewhat unorthodox method works and he wins over Anna, but problems arise when Richard Towne, Anna's fiancé who has been searching for her, finds the island and discovers the two.

Dir: Frank Powell

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

The husband and wife of a typical American family read the story of Albert and Louise, European peasants. Albert, called to war, is able to come home but once during the conflict. The captain of the enemy takes up his headquarters in Albert's house and forces his attention upon Louise. War over, Albert returns home rejoicing in the news of the birth of a son. He is told Louise has never looked at or touched the baby. Demanding an explanation Louise tells of the visit of the captain. Albert would kill the child, but Louise's motherhood asserts itself and she saves its life. The American family rejoice on completing the story that America is at peace.

Dir: Frank Powell

Former newsboy and jockey Joe Braxton, becomes a millionaire rancher and decides to visit New York. He soon becomes the prey of swindler Tom Linson and socialite Viola Grayson. Linson defrauds Braxton's old employer, Colonel Downs, and attempts to corrupt Eleanor, the colonel's daughter. When Eleanor learns that Linson intends to destroy Joe on the stock exchange, she warns him, disregarding Linson's threat to ruin her reputation. Eleanor is too late, but Joe recovers his losses by riding Mongrel to victory in the Kentucky Futurity, after having stacked his last dollar on the horse's success.

Dir: Frank Powell

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

Farmer Leo Bannister is crazy about his neighbor Auriole Praed, but she finds him to becoming on too strong. She travels to Paris to see her brother, and there falls in love with and marries Otto Bettany, a young painter. When the couple return home, Bannister--still carrying a torch for Auriole--plots to claim Auriole for himself by using a beautiful young actress to work her "charms" on Otto and then showing Auriole how untrustworthy her new husband is.

Dir: Frank Powell

Nell Loring, a Texas sheep rancher's daughter, stops a fight between her father and his neighbor John Corliss, a cattleman, who have feuded for years. Although John loves Nell, he keeps it secret when she promises to marry his errant brother Billy if he stops drinking. After John rescues Nell from a runaway horse, though, she confesses that she really loves him. Worried about the feud, Nell makes John promise never to kill anyone. After Billy is wounded in a barroom brawl, John refuses him money until he reforms. Angered, Billy plots with Fadeaway, a cowboy John dismissed, to rob John's safe. John remembers his promise during his subsequent fight with Fadeaway and only punches him soundly. After Fadeaway is killed by the sister of a woman he betrayed, John, believing that Nell killed him, plants evidence to convict himself. Although Billy, now reformed, tries to take the blame, the murderer's written confession frees John to marry Nell.

Dir: Frank Powell

A reception given by the Count to celebrate his daughter Ann's engagement to Baron Moreno is disrupted by the news that a mine in which the whole village has invested is worthless. When the Count, who persuaded the townspeople to invest their savings in the venture, commits suicide, the baron jilts the now-destitute Ann. She marries Slater, an American promoter, and they move to the United States, hoping to earn enough to pay off her father's debts, but the baron follows Ann and forces his attentions on her. This provides Slater's mother, who is insanely jealous of her son's love for his wife, with the opportunity to break up their marriage. Slater orders his wife from the house and the baron offers her sanctuary. Ann's baby's incessant crying for her mother forces Slater to attempt a reconciliation, and when he looks for her, he finds her with the baron. In the ensuing fight, both men are mortally wounded. Ann returns to her child; she finds her mother-in-law repentant, and the three return to France to repay the debt.