Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Old Wives for New: Cult Guide

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

An old sheikh punishes his son Jamil for robbing a caravan by giving his horse to the wronged merchant. The horse is sold to a Turkish general, then given to Christian missionary Mary Hilbert. Jamil takes it from her but then, after falling in love, save her and her father. When his father dies, Jamil must relinquish Mary to become the new sheikh.

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

In order to help her smuggler kinsmen, a sultry gypsy seduces and corrupts an officer of the Civil Guard turning him into a traitor and murderer.

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

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

With her brother killed Sonya is given Turkish captive Mahmud to do the hard work on the farm. After they become fond of each other he strikes a Turkish officer. When peace arrives, his blow costs him his noble lands. She is burned out of her house. They meet again on the road with nothing but each other.

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

Horace and Ethel Simpson, wealthy siblings touring Europe, fall prey to Russian conmen, one of who plans a marriage with Ethel. The executor of their fortune Daniel Pike, assisted by Grand Duke Vasill, exposes the Russians for what they are.

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

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

Nora is nursemaid to a wealthy family and in love with their chauffeur Nolan. When she hides her mistress' lover in her room, jealous Nolan shoots him and Nora, who refuses to tell about her mistress affair, is dismissed.

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

Mary Denby becomes a seamstress after her husband Steve wastes their money on booze. Her employer provides her as an escort to accompany millionaire Roger Manning. Her husband tries blackmailing Manning and is later killed by the police, leaving Mary free to wed the millionaire.

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

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

A venal, spoiled stockbroker's wife impulsively embezzles $10,000 from the charity she chairs and desperately turns to a Burmese ivory trader to replace the stolen money.

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

A young American has her ship torpedoed by a German U-boat but makes it back to ancestral home in France, where she witnesses German brutality firsthand.

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

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

Ramon loves Catalonian peasant Maria Rosa. He uses a knife belonging to her love Andreas to kill fisherman Pedro, so Andreas goes to jail for ten years. Maria will wait for him, but Ramon convinces her Andreas dies in prison so she agrees to marry him. On their wedding day Ramon is paroled. Maria then stabs Ramon.

Dir: Cecil B. DeMille

Esra Kincaid takes land by force, and having taken the Espinoza land, he sets his sight on the Castro rancho U.S. Government Agent Kearney holds him off until the cavalry shows up and he can declare his love for Juanita--"The Rose of the Rancho."