The Definitive Guide Deeply Connected to Muggsy: Cult Guide

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

Bethesda Carewe is the spoiled daughter of wealthy indulgent parents. When Mr. Carewe loses his fortune, he plans to replenish his bank accounts by marrying his daughter to the rich Mortimer Hunt. Bethesda refuses to cooperate however, and when Hunt calls at the house, she does everything in her power to repulse him. This only excites Hunt into wanting her more, so he plots with Mr. Carewe to kidnap Bethesda. She is taken into the mountains and held in a cabin until she is willing to admit that she loves the man she is unwilling to love. Hunt then arranges for a gang of desperadoes to lynch him, and to save the man she unwillingly loves, Bethesda declares her love for Hunt and proclaims that she will marry him immediately.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

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

Rich young playboy Gregory Kirkland reads a newspaper story about a daring robbery, and bets his friends that he can steal a famous diamond tiara, The Sultana, from its designer and then secretly return it without being caught. Robert Sautrelle, who designed the tiara, visits Kirkland's home, and Gregory does indeed steal it. However, he gets cold feet before he returns it and convinces a woman he knows, Virginia Lowndes, to return it. Unfortunately, things don't work out exactly as Gregory had planned.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

Jane Dwight possesses an overactive imagination and spins romantic tales in which she is the heroine. When oil is discovered on her father's farm, young millionaire James Thornton comes to purchase the land, is attracted to the tomboyish Jane, and offers to send the girl to boarding school. A year later, Jane returns home from school posing as a grand dame, hoping to please Thornton. But Jane's airs have the reverse effect because Thornton is disappointed in the change that has come over the tomboy he once knew. Consequently, Jane dons her calico dress and hides in Thornton's car. Upon discovering his tomboy once again, Thornton orders his chauffeur to drive to the nearest justice of the peace.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

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

Having lost his fortune through poor speculation, stockbroker John Porter goes West with his wife and young daughter Bab. After ten years on the ranch, Bab develops into the real cowgirl and falls in love with neighboring ranch owner Richard Sterling, a former clerk who, through shrewd maneuvering, struck it rich. Bab's mother, who has social ambitions, frowns upon the affair, and when oil is discovered on their ranch, she seizes the opportunity to send her daughter back East to finishing school. Returning home for vacation, Bab discovers that her mother and father have separated. Bab then decides to fix everything up, beginning with her parents' marriage and ending with her own wedding to Sterling.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

Little Dot Jarvis is tolerated, but not loved, by her ambitious parents, who send her to boarding school so they can move into a fashionable apartment building that does not allow children. At school, Dot is treated so cruelly that she runs away, but a kind farmer takes her to the police station and she is returned to her parents. When Dot's father becomes involved in a scheme to smuggle arms into Mexico, Dot's photograph prevents newspaper owner Robert Chase from exposing him. Repentant, Dot's parents finally give her the love she had so sorely missed.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

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

Little Sallie O'Brien, who sells newspapers on the city streets, is adopted by Bridget Cassidy, the landlady, when her mother dies. Mrs. Cassidy treats the child cruelly, but soon the wealthy James Wilson befriends Sallie and takes her into his home. Sallie is befriended by Wilson's son Richard, but his daughter Marjorie dislikes the impish little girl. Although Frederick Mason is in love with Marjorie, she refuses to marry him because she finds him too lacking in boldness and chivalry to suit her romantic temperament. Having overheard Frederick's proposal, Sallie induces Bridget's son Patrick to visit the house in the guise of "the Duke of Galway." Marjorie becomes infatuated with the "duke" and promises to marry him, but Mrs. Cassidy appears and exposes her prodigal son. Richard saves Sallie from a whipping, while Marjorie finally accepts Frederick.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

The wife of Peter Conway died in giving birth to a baby girl. Babbie, the motherless child, grew up to be beautiful and vivacious, her liveliness and innocent pranks were the joy and despair of her rough-handed but tender-hearted father, while Hannah, her elder sister, mothered and idolized the impulsive girl. But Babbie became the wife of a drunken wretch. Her husband died and back she fled to her father's arms. Hannah learned to love Ned Higgins, a newcomer, who at first did not like Babbie, but later found himself captivated by her artless charms, but the gathering clouds of an impending strike brought Asa Robins, a reporter, to the coal fields. After saving Asa from a beating at the hands of the strikers, Babbie refused his offer of marriage and the newspaperman was compelled to flee the town. Ned's jealousy was aroused by this incident and he unwillingly realized that he loved Babbie. With faltering voice he told Hannah the truth. She was crushed by the blow, but calmly replied, "Then you shall marry Babbie." Babbie appreciating the sterling worth of Ned, loved him deeply, but for her sister's sake rebuffed his advances and admonished him to remain true to Hannah. At last the strike was declared and the company imported trainloads of heavily armed guards to protect the mine property. Egged on by Dominick Kenelly, a drunken miner, the strikers prepared to attack the newcomers, but Babbie foreseeing its fatal consequences, summoned the priest, who averted the clash and rebuked the intoxicated leader. Enraged because Babbie foiled his plan, Kenelly attacked her in a lonely glen, and if it had not been for the timely interference of Ned, the girl would have been severely beaten. Ned again uttered his pleas, but Babbie remained unmoved. While crossing a railroad trestle, they were overtaken by an onrushing train. Seizing Babbie, he leaped and was rendered unconscious while Babbie was unhurt. She looked into his face and murmured, "Oh, my love, say that you are not dead." Ned opened his eyes. "Babbie, I love you. I can't live without you. Give me your promise." She impulsively threw her arms about his neck in an ecstasy of joy, when suddenly her sister's face flashed across her mind. "God of Mercy," she cried in anguish, "Everything I touch withers and is snatched from me. I am ill-starred; take away the curse." Convulsed with tears she fled, and prepared to leave home to forget her unfortunate love, when she heard that her father had been captured by the authorities and was to be court-martialed and executed. Stealing through the lines she rescued her father, and mounted on a horse they fled under a hail of bullets from the guards. Babbie was hit and fell from weakness from the horse, and for the first time her father learned of her wound. Ned and Hannah soon discovered the two at the roadside. Babbie fast nearing death, smiled at them, and taking the weeping Hannah's hand, placed it in Ned's. "I am going," she said almost inaudibly, "my star is sinking, and soon all will be over, but for my sake. Ned, love and cherish Hannah, as I have loved and cherished you." Babbie's lips ceased to move, and the little group bowed their heads and wept.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of No Children Wanted perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A rich man's son is forced to find a job, and he finds one at a night club after getting his predecessor sacked. He makes mistakes and causes accidents. When a valuable garter is lost by the star of the floor show, he scams customers with some fakes, leading to a chase that spills out onto the streets.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

Erma Desmond gets a job as a companion to high society's Bertie Stanley, to whom she bears a striking resemblance. While her husband Hugo has been in Europe, Bertie has fallen in love with another man, so she makes plans to go to Reno for a divorce. She urges Erma to stay in the Stanley mansion and assume her identity while she is gone, so that no one will be aware of her absence. An obedient Erma agrees and the masquerade works perfectly until Hugo returns unexpectedly from Europe and Erma must fool the man who knows Bertie best. After some initial problems, Hugo gets along better with Erma than he ever did with Bertie, and as a result, when word comes that Bertie has a fresh divorce and a new husband, Hugo first determines the identity of the woman living with him, and then marries her.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

Country girl Claire Marley goes to the city to pursue a life of excitement, while her twin sister Ida remains home to care for their aging parents. Immersing herself in life with the fast set, Claire becomes the mistress of wealthy bachelor Roy Vangrift who promises to marry her. After Roy tires of Claire and casts her off, she leaves him to earn a respectable living, but failing at this, returns home. Shortly afterward, Roy goes fishing and makes his camp near the Marley home where he meets Claire's sister Ida with whom he falls in love. Discovering that Roy plans to elope with her sister, Claire - with the aid of the minister - takes Ida's place and the two are married. She then reveals her true identity and Roy, realizing that he really loves his bride, forgives Claire.