The Definitive Guide Deeply Connected to Nedra: Cult Guide

Dir: Edward José

Sincere but struggling sculptor Tommasso (Caruso--bushy moustache, gawky) works in an ornamental plaster shop, but his masterpiece on the side is a bust of his cousin Caroli (Caruso--no moustache, polished), who is the Metropolitan Opera's leading tenor. Tommasso hopes to marry his model Rosa, but her father, restaurant owner Pietro, wants her to find someone more settled and money-conscious, such as the greengrocer Lombardi down the street. Tommasso, he says, throws away his money, such as for a pair of tickets to take Rosa to the opera to see his famed cousin. After the opera, the cousins cross paths in the swanky Galeotto's restaurant, but when neither recognizes the other, Tommasso is generally mocked and Rosa believes him a liar and unworthy. Tommasso must recover his reputation and make a sale, preferably the Caroli bust to his cousin, in order to win Rosa back.

Dir: Edward José

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

Laura Ward a selfish girl steals a large sum of money, her twin sister Agnes is mistakenly accused of the crime and sent to prison. Meanwhile, Laura abandons her sweetheart, alcoholic architect Richard Leigh, to marry an elderly millionaire named William Benedict, but she soon renews her affair. When a detective catches the lovers together, Agnes, just released from prison, agrees to pose as Richard's mistress, thereby saving Laura's marriage. Through Agnes's influence, Richard is regenerated, and the two eventually marry. Later, however, Laura reappears, and Agnes finds Richard drinking and embracing her. In a rage, William shoots and kills Laura, but Agnes forgives her erring husband and takes him home.

Dir: Edward José

Frank Clamart, abandoned illegitimate son of a wealthy merchant, flees to Paris and joins a gang of "society crooks" led by Chu-Chu and Leontine Petrovsky, his sometime-lover. To prove his prowess to the gang and to Leontine, with whom he has fallen in love, Frank attempts to rob the house of a well-to-do family but is shot by the owner. As Leontine escapes unharmed, Frank is inspected by the owner's wife, who, recognizing a birthmark on Frank's wrist, identifies him as her husband's missing half-brother. Nursed back to health by his sister-in-law, Frank agrees to renounce his life of crime, but when a jealous Chu-Chu breaks into the house and steals the family jewels, Frank is suspected. To exonerate himself, Frank tricks Chu-Chu and retrieves the gems. Determined to have revenge, Chu-Chu tries once more to rob the house and, when caught by Frank, shoots him in the shoulder. Frank pursues Chu-Chu in a taxicab, forces him over a cliff, then leaves with his new love, the cab driver, who fires a shot that kills Chu-Chu.

Dir: Edward José

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

The elderly Italian sculptor Donata di Marchesi has his beautiful daughter Diana pose for his last masterpiece, "The Island Goddess." When Donata's profligate nephew Count Gabrielle realizes the sculpture's value, he courts Diana and she falls in love with him. Prince Marko visits to view the statue and he falls in love with Diana. Because he earlier had discovered that Gabrielle forged his name on checks, when Marko learns that Gabrielle and Diana are about to elope, he agrees not to denounce Gabrielle and to tear up the checks if he leaves. After Diana's father dies, she marries Marko. Later, in Rome, Gabrielle comes to extort money from Marko. Diana overhears them and learns about their deal. Thinking that Marko only wanted the statue, she breaks it and returns to the island. Marko and Gabrielle follow and fight on a cliff, then, after Gabrielle knifes Marko, Marko pushes him to his death. Marko lies critically ill for days with his brain affected, until Diana, enwrapped in silk, poses as the statue. Marko revives and embraces her.

Dir: Edward José

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Edward José

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

Learning he has six months to live, the wealthy Simon De Gex decides to tell no one of his impending death and to spend his fortune madly. He breaks off his engagement to Eleanor Faversham, then is approached in a park by a dwarf and enlisted in a plot to kill the deserting husband of the beautiful Lola, a cat trainer at the London Hippodrome. The murder plans are carried out in Paris; the dwarf stabs Lola's husband and Simon departs, only to be overcome by his sickness. Selflessly Lola nurses him back to health, but, ridiculed as low-class by Eleanor and Dale, Simon's secretary, she returns to the theater. Cured by a daring operation, Simon sets out to find Lola. His search is rewarded but coincides with the reappearance of the demented dwarf. In a fury of rejection, the dwarf accidentally blinds his beloved. Simon devotes himself to Lola, but she resists his proposals until a second miraculous operation restores her eyesight and frees her to marry in good conscience.

Dir: Edward José

An orphan in Africa unwittingly marries an abusive man, falls in love with and gets pregnant by an amnesiac, runs away and becomes a novelist.

Dir: Edward José

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

Fedora, a beautiful and elegant woman of Russian society, travels to Paris in search of her fiance's murderer.

Dir: Edward José

A woman unhappily married to a blackguard is washed ashore after a shipwreck and finds her sole companion to be a young man recently jilted. Both of them despise the opposite sex, but after a little time on the island....

Dir: Edward José

In sixteenth century Greece, Gismonda, the Duchess of Athens, entertains a stream of suitors, although she only loves her little son Francesco. Prince Zaccaria, who wishes to become the duke of Athens, kidnaps Francesco and throws him into a pit holding a huge lion. The duchess, terrified that her child is in danger, offers to marry the man who rescues her boy. The deed is accomplished by a humble huntsman, Almerio, but Gismonda soon breaks her promise, not wishing to marry a commoner. To persuade him to release her from her vow, the duchess visits Almerio one night but is seen by Zaccaria and his cohort Gregoras leaving the hut in the morning. Zaccaria determines to kill the huntsman, but Gismonda stabs him at Almerio's door. Having discovered who was responsible for Francesco's entrapment, Gismonda has Gregoras arrested. Finally realizing her great love for Almerio, she bestows on him the title of duke and marries him.