Visionary Picks In Alignment with the style of Rolling Stones: Cult Guide

Dir: Dell Henderson

Pretty young seamstress Doria Dane is discovered by a motion picture producer, who transforms her into a film star and then proposes. Doria, however, has fallen in love with a sculptor named George Steele, who has asked her to pose for his statue, "American Militant." Under Doria's influence, George concentrates on his work and avoids his frivolous Greenwich Village friends, with the result that he wins a prestigious award for the statue. Basking in the limelight, George neglects Doria and falls prey to the fashionable Mrs. Schuyler, a wealthy widow who wants him for herself. George's friends are horrified when Doria bursts into his studio and shatters his masterpiece, but soon afterwards, she leads him into artist Harry North's studio, where the statue is standing intact. After explaining that she destroyed only Harry's replica of the work, Doria accepts George's heartfelt apology, and the two are reunited.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Kid Kelly, a gangster in New York's Lower East Side, attempts to rob Goldberg's millinery store. When the police arrive, Flo Haines, who had come to the building to look at an apartment, hides. When the police find her, they charge her with the crime, but the Kid turns himself over to the law instead. After his release, he again meets Flo, who works in an artificial-flower factory by day and at Reverend Roberts' relief mission by night. The Kid soon falls in love with Flo, and his jealous sweetheart Mamie tricks her into coming to her apartment, where she drugs her and turns her over to Joe Carelli, the flower factory's lustful owner. The Kid saves Flo, but when Carelli is found murdered the next day, he is arrested for the crime. The confession of Annie, who had stabbed Carelli in a jealous rage, frees The Kid, who reforms himself and marries Flo.

Dir: Dell Henderson

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Among the younger members of the select families of the "Avenue," are Pete Milholland, a "good fellow" and sportsman, and his fiancée, Alice Gardner. Only once have they quarreled, that was when Pete disgraced himself by coming upon the polo fields intoxicated. This was good cause, and we now find Peter staring blankly ahead of him with the returned ring in his hand. Still in a stupor from drink, Pete instructs his butler that he is leaving for Europe and staggers out of the house. He finds himself on the shores at Coney Island, in a garb not his own. During his wanderings in the amusement park, Pete comes before the entrance of the "Turkish Dream." Partially attracted by the pretty dancer and chiefly in need of sleep, he smuggles himself into the place. He has come at the psychological moment, for the proprietor, Mooney, and his daughter, Tessie, the dancer, are in a quandary. Their orchestra, the pianist, has left them. Pete steps into the breach, much to the jealousy of Jan, the boatman, Tessie's ardent lover. As time passes Pete decides to return home, taking with him Tessie and her father. The jovial Irishman and his daughter dislike the idea of leaving their "kind," but with the arrival of the automobile they agree to go. Tessie is taken care of by Pete's aunt, who would rather do most anything than come in contact with the belle of Coney Island. Her arrival causes consternation in society circles and it is realized by Pete that she is not suitable for him, but he is determined to marry her, as Alice, according to the papers, is going to become the wife of his friend, Tony Graves. During her stay at the Milholland mansion Tessie notices how Pete controls his feelings when Alice approaches, and how Alice's heart nearly breaks when the two girls meet. Alice and Pete finally come face to face, and Pete learns that the newspaper report of Alice's marriage to Tony was false. He takes her in his arms, and thus they are discovered by Tessie. Summoning all her strength and forcing a smile upon her face, Tessie tells them that she lied and does not love Pete at all, and returns her ring. Pete is overcome to think that he was on the verge of falling into the trap set by this young "vampire," while Alice is overjoyed at the unexpected turn of events, though secretly feeling that Tessie is making a great sacrifice. After Tessie's return to her kingdom on the beach, "The Turkish Dream," true love steals its way into her heart as it had done to Alice and Pete, and soon Jan proves to be her ideal of a husband.

Dir: Dell Henderson

A young man doubles as a butler and an amateur detective.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Traveling under the name "Charles Conant," the son of an American mine owner tries to enter England in 1916 after masquerading as a muleteer, but the captain of his ship, suspicious when he sees him looking through a spyglass, plans to take him back to the United States. Charles escapes and visits his relative, Lady Dartridge, and falls in love with her daughter, Lady Joan Templar, who is loved by her cousin, chief constable George Templar who, suspicious of Charles' manner and unexplainable meetings and activities, wants to arrest him as a spy. After Charles handcuffs two German agents, he reveals that he is a secret-service man. Earlier, he mistakenly sold titanium from his father's mine to a German agent. His successful mission recovered the titanium before it went to Germany aboard a U-boat. Promising to wed Lady Joan, Charles leaves to join the Lafayette Squadron in France.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Press agent J. Butterfield Conroy, known affectionately as "Butts," is left only $500 when his wealthy father dies--until he can show that he has been "of service to humanity" in a scientific capacity. In a New York restaurant, Butts meets Mary Bruce MacDowell when her uncle Angus, an entomologist, chases a butterfly around his table. Smitten with love, Butts follows Mary to Bug Hollow, a resort where the professor is searching for a rare insect. After losing all his money playing poker, Butts starts to walk to Manhattan, when he meets Frank Morrison, an acquaintance, who hires Butts to invent a reputation for him as a scientist so that the professor will allow him to court Mary. Although Butts is successful, Mary, loving Butts, refuses Morrison. After Butts rescues the professor from his burning laboratory, set on fire by Brazilian swindler Ybor Cavallo, the professor consents to Butts' and Mary's marriage and Butts is awarded the rest of his father's estate.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

To prevent her niece from becoming an old maid, Beatrice Hammond's aunt stipulates in her will that the girl must be married by the age of eighteen or sacrifice a million dollar inheritance. Beatrice is in love with Ronald Farwell, but he has been called to fight against the Germans in France, so Beatrice approaches her guardian, Gerald Eversleigh, with a plan: Gerald will marry her, thus insuring that she will inherit the fortune, but divorce her as soon as Ronald returns. The wedding is staged, and all goes well until Gerald falls in love with his wife. Meanwhile, Ronald falls in love with a French nurse and, upon his return home, offers to pay Gerald to remain married to Beatrice. Gerald happily accepts the offer but refuses the money, and Beatrice discovers that she has loved her husband all along.

Dir: Dell Henderson

After Miriam Gibson is seduced and abandoned by a handsome adventurer, who marries an old woman with money, she becomes a prostitute to get money for her new-born child. When the baby dies, Miriam, now without hopes, goes to London and becomes the mistress and housekeeper of barrister Geoffrey Sherwood, who has become a drunkard after having been jilted by his fiancée Valentine, when she married a wealthy baronet. Miriam hopes to marry Geoffrey, but when Valentine, who is unhappy with her baronet, begins to trifle with Geoffrey, he responds and discards Miriam. Geoffrey soon realizes the shallowness of his affair with Valentine, who has not divorced the baronet, and his sense of shame is awakened by Miriam's kindness and consideration for others. They marry in a little Scottish kirk, and sail for Buenos Aires to begin a new life.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Pampered Frederic "Freddy" Pritchard, warned by his father that he must work or be disinherited, learns how to crack safes to help his girlfriend Gloria Nevins, whose villainous uncle holds security for the family jewels, as well as the right to vote on the disposition of the Nevins Motor Works. After Freddy steals the papers with the aid of his valet Smithson, Gloria's uncle locks him in a warehouse to prevent him from attending a crucial stockholders' meeting. Freddy escapes and saves the factory for Mrs. Nevins, who gives him power of proxy. Pritchard, Sr., pleased with his son, consents to Freddy's marriage to Gloria.