Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Mysteries of th...

Dir: James W. Horne

Two women finally tire of being taken advantage of by men, and vow that they will stop these cads from preying on helpless young girls.

Dir: James W. Horne

Dave Allen, secretary to James Pendroy, a wealthy banker, is accused of stealing bonds from his employer. Dave rounds up the thieves, who include one Josef Le Baron, a suitor of Pendroy's daughter. Dave marries the girl.

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

Dir: James W. Horne

The search is on for a bank robber's hidden stash in a house they all say is haunted.

Dir: James W. Horne

Young clubman Bob Gilmore is called by telephone to his home, where his parents are giving him a birthday party. He overhears one of the male guests make a slurring remark about his mother's appearance, and punishes him right there, throwing the entire gathering into an uproar. Later in the evening he assumes guilt for a check which had actually forged by his foster father, in order to save the mother's feelings, but obtains a written confession from the guilty man for future use if necessary. Learning that he had been adopted from a foundling asylum in infancy, Bob decides to go to New York to see if he cannot learn his real name, which he understands begins with "Mor." He disguises himself and enters many homes, attired in evening clothes, and is soon known to the police as "The Midnight Man." In the meantime he has come into contact with members of the White Circle gang, and has many close physical encounters with them.

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

Dir: James W. Horne

When he is jilted, Alan Remington, the son of a wealthy Washington politician, falls into a state of deep depression. On the advice of Professor Hollister, from whom he is purchasing a death ray, the elder Remington attempts to divert Alan by providing him with excitement. At this time, a gang of foreign agents, led by Darwin Kershaw, Remington's secretary, kidnap both the inventor and his daughter, Carolyn, and steal the death ray, but not before the resourceful girl has thrown the control key to the ray out of the window, where it lands in Alan's car. The conspirators attempt to regain the key, but they are mockingly foiled on several occasions by Alan, who thinks they are men hired by his father to jolt him out of his depression. Alan eventually realizes that the men are seriously trying to kill him, and he sets out to bring them to justice. Alan prevents the agents from destroying several naval gunboats, rescues the Hollisters, and rounds up the aliens, handing them over to the F. B. I.

Dir: James W. Horne

Wealthy Bruce MacAllister is goaded by his fiancée, Helen Sumner, into proving that he is a man of action rather than a pampered youth. After telling his estate administrator, Eugene Preston, that he is going east for a meeting, Bruce dons a disguise and infiltrates the San Francisco, CA, underworld. Bruce is mistaken for master criminal "The Chicago Kid" and finds himself leading the gang in a robbery of his own fortune in diamonds. When he discovers Eugene's intention to steal the jewels for himself, the loot changes hands many times. Helen summons the police, the criminals are arrested, and Bruce wins her respect.

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

Dir: James W. Horne

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: James W. Horne

Although she loves Clive, a young lawyer, Margaret weds Deering to save her father from financial ruin, while passing years bring fame to Clive and result in his being elected district attorney, the man cannot forget Margaret. Deering conducts a magnificent gambling establishment in his mansion. His conduct toward Margaret causes her to hate him. In the meantime, having promised to break up the ring, headed by Garvin, which is protecting the gamblers, Clive arranges a raid upon the Deering establishment. Due to a leak, however, this raid comes to naught. While in the mansion, Clive comes face to face with Margaret. Deering watching the two, sees their old love well up anew. It causes the man to become more brutal than ever to his wife. The district attorney discovers his secretary to be the source of the leak which had frustrated the raid. A second raid proves successful. Before this takes place, Clive dispatches a note to Margaret urging her to leave before his men arrive. Deering, believing his wife had known of this raid all along, is wild with rage and attempts to kill her. This is frustrated and the gambler is arrested. He later makes a sensational escape and returns to his mansion in time to see Ramon, his partner, rifling the secret safe containing their funds. After mortally wounding the man, Deering attempts to kill Margaret. Dying, Ramon summons Clive and the police. The latter come just in time to save the woman. Again Deering tries to escape, but this time he meets his death in leaping from a balcony.

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

Dir: James W. Horne

A series of remarkable attempts are made upon the life of Don Louis, who is stopping at the Grand Hotel. About to retire, he finds a cobra coiled in his bed. Later, a strangler's cord swishes through the air and encircles the Spaniard's neck. The man escapes death by a miracle. The third attempt occurs when a huge chandelier suspended directly above the table at which Don Louis sits, crashes down. Unnerved, the Spaniard begs Hilton, one of the hotel detectives, to spend the night with him. A few hours later, Hilton is found bound and gagged. He tells of a mysterious visitor who overpowered him and kidnapped Don Louis. No trace of the culprit and his victim can be found. Renee, daughter of Valdez, the cigarmaker who supplies the hotel with his wares, informs Hilton that her father has disappeared. The sympathetic detective accompanies the girl home. The two hear strange noises in the curing house back of the cottage. Investigating, Hilton comes upon Valdez and Don Louis. The latter is buried neck deep in the ground. Hilton, attempting to interfere, is overpowered by Valdez, who appears insane. The man informs him that years before, Don Louis had him kidnapped, after which the scoundrel stole his wife. The woman later died in want. From the hour he learned the truth, the wronged man lived only for revenge. His story told, Valdez kneels beside the don's head and slowly shoves a cobra toward the man's face. Frances Ballou, summoned by Renee, arrives just in time to save the don's life. Hilton tells her the story while liberating Don Louis. The terrible ordeal has revealed to the latter the depths of his infamy and he slinks away. Her heart touched. Frances resolves to keep the matter from the police.

Dir: James W. Horne

A series of 25 2-reel Western thrillers in which a cowgirl aids the cause of justice and humanity in the Old West, often aided by her fiancé and her rancher father. Each episode tells a complete story in itself.