Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of Paris: Cult Guide

Dir: Charles Horan

While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

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

Dir: René Hervil

Suzanne Daubray, whose brother went off to war, is courted by the Prince of Sylvania who is engaged to Princess Sonia.

Dir: René Hervil

Susan Daubray's father, a judge, insists upon her reading law. Her brother, Robert, is her only real companion. She has a kind friend in Daddy Dorand, a goatherd on a neighboring island. Prince Michael of Sylvana is visiting the Duke of Valdimere, whose castle is near Susan's home. Susan meets the Prince and they become close friends. The Prince is called to Paris to meet Princess Sonia. He writes to Susan, but his letter is intercepted by the Duke, who disapproves of the acquaintance. Susan, unable to bear the sorrow of the loss of her friend, goes to the Duke's castle to learn the reason why the Prince does not write. While in the castle she faints and a ring which the Prince had given her is taken from her finger by the Duke and returned to its original owner, the Prince. The Prince thinks that Susan has forgotten him and he consents to marry the Princess. A baby is born to Susan and she is told by her father to leave his house. She goes with the goatherd to live. Her brother, who has gone to America, returns and, learning of the Prince's deceit, seeks him out an in a fight and he, the brother, is thrown over a balcony and killed. The Prince then learns of the intercepted letter and finds Susan and they are reconciled. Susan, after the reconciliation, is content to die in her happiness and drowns herself.

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

Dir: René Hervil

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

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

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: René Hervil

Flora Nys, a poor flower girl of Paris faces hard times. Her rent overdue, Le Baron, the landlord, oppresses her and puts before her a shady proposition. Indignantly she orders him out of her room. When she takes up her flowers, preparatory to going forth to sell them, she discovers that Le Baron has trampled on them. Tempted by her poverty she steals a fur in a department store. Le Baron sees her and follows her into the street where the girl, conscience-stricken, throws it away. Le Baron picks it up and follows her to the home of Paul Bernard, an actor, who every year gives a Christmas party to certain poor children of Paris. Bernard redeems the fur and, attracted by Flora's loveliness, asks her to become his wife. In time, Flora becomes an expert dancer and leading woman at Bernard's theatre. Gray Stanton, a wealthy rounder, attracts Flora. He endeavors to entice her away from her husband in which task he is assisted by Le Baron, who harbors revenge. On the night of the opening of a new production, Flora deserts the theatre, influenced by a trumped up story regarding Stanton's injury. She discovers the lie and returns to Paris to discover that her husband is suffering from an attack of brain fever occasioned by her flight. She devotes her time in efforts to bring back his memory and finally when another Christmas rolls around she dons her old clothes and sits before the open fire place as she did when Bernard first met her. This has the desired effect. Bernard's memory is restored and he readily forgives the past when he learns the unhappy story of Stanton from his wife's own lips. Motion Picture News, December 14, 1918

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Suzanne, professeur de flirt perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: René Hervil

A mother loses first her son and then her husband in the trenches of France during the First World War. She devotes herself to the French cause and to helping those wounded in the war.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.