Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of Mysteries of Paris...

Dir: Albert Capellani

Jean Valjean, a good man convicted of a minor crime, escapes from imprisonment and spends the rest of his life running from the vindictive and implacable man of the law, Javert.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Aurora Fernandez, a poor Cuban girl, is persuaded against her will to become betrothed to Don Armada, a wealthy Cuban. She loves Pedro, a young fisherman, who lives with his uncle, Father Venture, and his sister Celida, who has been secretly stealing to Don Armada's villa, but is cast off by him on his engagement to Aurora. Longing for a sight of Pedro, disguised as a dancing girl, Aurora goes to an inn where Pedro comes with other fishermen for a nights revelry. He does not recognize her as his "Lady of the Lily" as he calls her, but falls a victim to the charms of the dancing girl. Celida, dying of a broken heart, confesses to Pedro and Father Venture, and Pedro, to avenge Celida, summons all the fishermen in the village and leads them against Armada in whose villa the wedding feast is being held. The guests fly in terror and Armada is wounded. Aurora alone remains undaunted, and Pedro, finding her, recognizes not only his love of the tavern, but Aurora, and that she is the wife of Armada. Notwithstanding her pleadings not to kill her husband, he is about to strike when he sees that Don Armada is blind. This awakens his pity and he leaves the house. Don Armada has an operation performed on his eyes which proves successful, but the physicians warn him that any shock may result in blindness for life. Aurora, in the meantime, has been carrying on clandestine meetings with Pedro and Armada, hoping to find out who Aurora's lover is, tells her that the operation has been a failure. He intercepts a note from Pedro and, locking Aurora in her room, stabs Pedro. He then returns to Aurora and she discovers he has tricked her. He tells her what he has done, but the shock kills him. Aurora escapes and finds Pedro still alive. She takes him home where she watches over him; and the crisis over, the lovers are reunited.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Based on Robert W. Chambers' novel about New York CIty life among the upper crust: Artist/model and philosopher Valerie West undergoes much sorrow and joy,many trials and tribulations ,and final triumph on her journey to become the living personification of sweet, noble womanhood.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Mildred White becomes romantically involved with both Derwent Ainsworth and Dr. Mario Martinez while in Paris. She prefers Derwent, but when he leaves suddenly to see his dying father, Mario convinces Mildred that he has deserted her. When World War I begins, Derwent returns for Mildred, but upon learning that she is leaving Paris with Mario, he enlists in the army. Mildred discovers Mario's initial deception and joins the Red Cross to be near Derwent, who is blinded in battle and then tended to by Mildred. Unaware of the true identity of his nurse, Derwent falls in love with her, and the two are soon married. Mildred then prevails upon Mario to perform a special operation on Derwent's eyes. His vision restored, Derwent realizes that Mildred has returned to him, while Mario, after helping his former rival, dies in battle.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Virginia Lee, daughter of a United States Senator, meets David Starr, a wounded United States soldier, in a field hospital in which she is serving as a Red Cross nurse. Star returns to the trenches and Virginia's base hospital is moved. Starr is again wounded and invalided home. Virginia has lost sight of him. She returns to America; and in Washington, Starr sees her at a ball at the French Embassy. Feeling her too far above him, socially, he goes West, whither Virginia's father takes her, on a business trip, and there a vital drama is enacted.

Dir: Albert Capellani

The daughter of an Arab sheik falls in love with a French naval officer, thus breaking the strict rule of social law of her people, as well as her religion. She follows him to France, where, torn between her love and her devotion to her own tribe, she seeks to resolve her dilemma through dangerous means.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Lily Bart loves Lawrence Selden, a lawyer of moderate means, but she is also pursued by Simon Rosedale, a wealthy businessman, and Augustus Trenor-Dorset, a married man. When Dorset's wife Bertha announces that she is going to the country (although she really plans to meet Ned Silverton, with whom she is having an affair), Dorset asks Lily to dine at his home. Alone with him at the house, she rejects his advances, but when Mrs. Dorset returns, she publicly insults Lily, forcing her to move to another town. Lily's aunt dies and leaves her penniless, whereupon she reluctantly begins to seek employment. She is about to kill herself when Selden, who has never stopped loving her, enters the room and convinces her to marry him.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Bernard Jansoulet, a fine specimen of the sons of Vulcan, kept the little farmstead of the Jansoulets by means of the profits from his smithy. His aged mother, a dear old lady, and a good-for-nothing brother, Louis, were the other members of the household. One day as Bernard passed along the little village, he saw poor, wayward Louis being exhorted to join a bibulous crowd at the inn. Bernard, himself of a temperate disposition, at once interposed, and soon led his brother towards home. There a good meal, served in true French farmhouse style, soon mollified the erring Louis, and during a chat there came the postman on his usual round. The missive, in an unusual writing, proved to be a letter saying that a friend had secured a situation in Paris for Louis. The answer was sent, and a few days later preparations were made for Louis' departure this, however, Bernard, in his usual quiet manner, negotiated a loan of 200 francs from a neighbor, and as Louis was on the point of going pressed upon him the little fortune to help him along his way. Full of seeming gratitude and with the kisses of his sorrowing mother still fresh upon his lips, Louis departed, with a promise to redeem the past in a new life. Life in Paris proved a vastly different thing to what Louis had expected ; but having succeeded to some extent by dint of resolution, he soon found time to look around and visit the many show places of the "gay capital." One evening, at a ball in the Montmartre district, he succumbed to the advances of a lady of somewhat doubtful morals, and eventually became the object of a quarrel between the woman and another, who had also been in his company. Filled with rage and pique at the slight which followed, the adventuress trumped up a charge of theft against Louis. The Public Prosecutor made short work of Louis' defense, and a letter, addressed to Bernard, bore the following words : - " My dear Bernard,- I have been fool enough to get mixed up with a woman, who, in a fit of jealousy, has accused me of stealing her jewels, and, as I cannot prove my innocence, I have been condemned to five years' imprisonment. Don't tell mother; it would kill her. - Louis Jansoulet." Bernard from that day went about his work in a dazed way. After the thought of Louis' error he could not settle, and, finally, leaving his mother sufficient for her needs for some time, he set out for a life in South Africa. On the way, at Marseilles, he met one Bompain, who, also in need of a friend, arranged to take him to a ship he knew of. An introduction to the captain secured berths for both as firemen. In the hot and grimy depths of the stokehold, they toiled for the next five weeks, and were pleased indeed to end the period of servitude, and set foot on new soil. After some weeks of search they drifted to the diamond mines, and entered once more upon a period of toil, compared to which the previous task was child's play. Bernard, ever of a strong and lusty way, could dig all day and hew the hard quartz without a murmur, but little Bompain, although a willing worker, soon found the work a severe trial. He was practically at the end of his powers of endurance, when Bernard made a staggering discovery. Within half-an-hour the news had spread all over the mine. The Frenchman, Jansoulet, had made the discovery of the age. Such a diamond had never before been gazed upon, and Jansoulet had suddenly become one of the world's richest men. Some months later Bernard sat in his palatial house in Paris, Bompain at his elbow as major-domo, and dreamed of his desires to conquer the entire city. His mother still preferred the old country life, and he was free to scheme and to gain his ambitions. Knowing his ways, one Moessac, the editor of The Messenger, soon fixed upon him as the one man to turn the tide of lii-fortune from his publishing house. A ball was arranged, on Moessac's suggestion, at Bernard's house, and here Felicia Ruys was introduced to him. Bernard, now named the Nabob, bestowed gifts with great prodigality, and Felicia was soon destined to come in for a share of his attentions. A scheme, evolved by Moessac and fostered by Bernard's growing love for the beautiful sculptress, was set on foot to secure for Bernard the office of Deputy for Corsica. The price of the honor was to be £4,000, to be paid to Moessac. Needless to say, the election proved an easy win for Jansoulet. He was soon able to dispatch a letter informing his mother of his success. He was not destined to live long, however, in his fool's paradise, for during a visit to Felicia's studio he overheard a conversation which showed that she was really in league with Moessac. In consequence of Bernard's denunciation. the rascally editor decided upon vengeance, and published a paragraph to the effect that " a grave political scandal is afoot. The member for Corsica, we are informed, has served a term of imprisonment for theft." Bernard arrived one day at the Chamber to find his alleged crime the one topic of conversation. He, having seen The Messenger, came prepared with the evidence of Louis' letter, and awaited the Chamber's action. The motion came on, and soon the House was intent upon the discussion of their comrade's transgression. At last Bernard was called upon to mount the dais and defend himself. As he commenced, his mother, who had come to congratulate her son, entered the visitors' gallery. She heard, in a dramatic scene, her son's denial of the base charge and his splendid speech. He was about to produce the letter which would fasten the guilt upon Louis, when he saw his mother's face. An instant's thought, and the letter was torn to fragments. Puzzled by his silence from this point, the majority pronounced him guilty. In the entrance-hall mother and son met, and as they left the Deputies began to realize that some reason obtained for the strange result of Bernard's actions. Moessac was shunned by all who knew him, and, disgusted with Paris and its superficial life, Bernard returned to the farm. Here, one evening, came Louis, footsore and starving. With true fraternal charity, he was taken in and succored, and once more the trio led their former plain and unassuming life as of old.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Sir Anthony Gregson, Bart., a wealthy mine owner, is unpopular with his employees, because of his unreasonable temper and lack of sympathy. Sir Anthony has one son, Aubrey, a lovable young man, who has angered his father by refusing to follow the latter's dictation in the matter of his marriage. Sir Anthony also has a twin brother, whom he has not seen for years. The brother, who has humble associates, is known among them as "Blink." Blink is married to a gypsy girl, known as "The Tearer." Sir Anthony makes a sea trip to benefit his health. By chance the yacht anchors off the coast where Blink has his hut. Sir Anthony accepts his brother's invitation to call on him, and while at Blink's hut he has a stroke of paralysis, and dies. Blink changes clothes with Sir Anthony, and taking advantage of his striking likeness to the other man, impersonates him. He proceeds to the yacht, taking "The Tearer" with him, pretending she is Miss Gibson, his trained nurse. Blink, as Sir Anthony, sails homeward with his "trained nurse." The first thing he does is to call on Mary Priestly with Miss Gibson. Miss Gibson tells Mary that she wishes to marry Sir Anthony, but will not take this step without first getting the consent of Aubrey. Sir Anthony (Blink) is apparently reconciled to his son and gives him his consent to marry Mary. Aubrey, of course, gives his consent in return. The troubles in the mines have reached a climax. The men have struck because of small wages and unsafe equipment. The men are enraged against Sir Anthony. To quell the disturbance, Blink, as Sir Anthony, agrees to look over the mines and investigate. This he does, taking Aubrey and Miss Gibson with him. After he investigates, he orders that new and safe equipment shall be bought, and that the miners' wages shall be raised. All this while Gouger, the friend of Blink in his former life, has been trying to see the man he thinks is Sir Anthony. Having found Sir Anthony dead in Blink's hut, he thinks that Sir Anthony has killed Blink and eloped with "The Tearer." Gouger is eager for revenge. He finds "The Tearer" and says that he wishes to have an interview with Sir Anthony. "The Tearer" (Miss Gibson), frightened for Blink's life, keeps putting Gouger off. At last, however, Blink (Sir Anthony) agrees to see him. Aubrey, Mary and Miss Gibson are in the room. To satisfy Gouger it is necessary for Blink to disclose his identity before Aubrey. This, of course, satisfies Gouger. Aubrey does not mind, as he has grown to love Blink. Blink again marries "The Tearer" for appearance's sake, and Aubrey marries Mary Priestly.

Dir: Albert Capellani

A crook bungles his biggest job, and when the police are put on his trail, he becomes hopelessly lost and commits suicide.