Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Mysteries of the Grand Hotel: Cult Guide

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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.

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A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

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Mary Grant, whose husband was killed in the war, has to support herself and her young son Tom by working in a cabaret because her husband's parents disapprove of and won't help her--but they want to adopt Tom. Complications ensue.

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

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Can a Woman Love Twice? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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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.

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When Bruce Sands, a dilettante artist with a history of amorous peccadilloes, discovers that his latest flame Bunny Winston wants to marry him, he seeks refuge at his friend John Woodward's country home, unaware that Woodward has asked Bunny to marry him. Bunny follows the artist to Woodward's estate, where Bruce begins a flirtation with Woodward's daughter Audrey. After Audrey is injured in a fall from a horse, Bruce promises to marry her, thinking that she is on her deathbed. Upon hearing the news, Bunny assumes that Bruce will now be a member of the family and so marries Woodward. When Audrey recovers, the engagement is broken, Bruce returns to town, and Bunny follows. Bruce rejects Bunny and begins his campaign for his next victim, leaving Audrey and her father to console each other.

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

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A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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Adam, the proprietor of a country hotel, loses his heart to Nell, a soubrette. Unknown to the old man, the girl and his son Jack were formerly sweethearts, but had quarreled because of her refusal to leave the stage. Knowing of Adam's love for Nell, Mason, the leading man, and Eppstein, the manager, induce him to finance the show. This is on its last legs. The members of the company stop at Adam's hotel while in Preston and thus Nell meets Jack again. Upon her refusal to give up the stage, Jack angrily leaves her. When the show departs early next morning, Adam goes with it. Nell is fascinated by Mason and the latter plays her against Clara, who also fancies she loves him. Nell does not know that it is Adam's money which is backing the show. When she does discover the manner in which the old man is being fleeced, she promptly declares her intention of quitting the company. The conspirators vainly plead with the girl. Desperate, Mason and Eppstein kidnap Adam and wire Jack in the old man's name asking him to telegraph $600. His suspicions aroused, Jack determines to investigate. In the meantime, Nell has discovered Adam's predicament. Securing assistance, she rescues him just as Jack arrives. In gratitude, Adam advances enough money to send all the members, with the exception of the plotters, home. Nell, sick of the stage, returns to Preston with Jack and his father. The latter learns of their love affair, and concealing his own love, gives them his blessing.

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

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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.

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Perry Whitman's wild escapades result in his being expelled from college, an event he celebrates by holding a wild party to which he invites the impoverished members of a theatrical troupe. He is disowned by his father and turned adrift with a $100 bill, which he loses. In trying to recover the money he saves a girl from becoming the victim of a matrimonial scheme; she eludes capture by kidnappers and marries him to save her fortune. Thus he wins his father's forgiveness.