The Global Archive For Devotees of Sapho: Cult Guide

Dir: Emile Chautard

Although he is a successful architect, devoted family man Robert Crewe does not earn enough to cover the expenses of his wife Marion and daughter Emily. Unknown to him, his Uncle Abner wants to ruin him because Robert's father stole Abner's fiancée, who died in childbirth after their marriage. Abner hires a beautiful seductress to break up Robert's happy home, but she is unsuccessful. Abner, who dies prematurely, leaves Robert his fortune, hoping that it finally will lead to Robert's downfall. As Robert and Marion drift apart, Emily is left in the hands of an uncaring nurse and cries herself to sleep each night. Robert has an affair with a Broadway actress and Marion becomes romantically involved with a prominent sculptor. Robert squanders his inheritance and involves himself in highly speculative business investments until, threatened with Emily's death, he and Marion finally decide to change their lives and bring the family back together once again.

Dir: Emile Chautard

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

Austrian diplomats, seeking papers in the possession of the United States diplomat, work through the infatuation of his son, Harry, for an Italian widow. In his desperate financial straits, he is induced to turn traitor to his trust, but the woman, truly loving him, saves him from the consequences of his crime, at the cost of her own love and life.

Dir: Emile Chautard

With the $1,000 prize money that wharf rat Michael Regan wins boxing, he is able to purchase a saloon and a freight-handling concern and begin his rise to success. By persuading his men to work for half the standard rate, Regan gains control of grain-shipping contracts held by his rival, the once wealthy James Griswold, now on the verge of bankruptcy because of Regan. When Regan meets and falls in love with Emily Griswold, he offers to merge with Griswold for permission to court Emily. She marries Regan, but remains a wife in name only. When Griswold's son provokes a strike, Regan's friend, Porkey McCoy, hits the young Griswold with a brick as he makes a speech. Regan is arrested as an instigator, but McCoy's wife insists that her husband confess. In prison, Regan turns over his property to Emily and releases her from their marriage, but she has grown to love him and refuses. When he is released, they resume their marriage and become the godparents to McCoy's son.

Dir: Emile Chautard

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

The old gardener, attracted by the ducks' antics, goes to the lake to find a basket with a baby in it. Six years later Little Dutch is sharing in the labors of her guardian, assisting him in the garden and trudging by his side to the city market. When she is 14, death takes her guardian. He leaves her a few coins, besides the house and garden, and she lives there alone. Famous painter Lionel, seeking a model for his "Marguerite," sees Little Dutch and persuades her to pose for him. Woodman Jean becomes jealous of the attentions of Lionel. On the day the good Padre sets aside for the villagers to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine, Lionel invites Little Dutch to share a day's outing with him. After a drive they visit a hotel. From a secluded arbor where they are eating she sees the villagers enjoying themselves. At eventide they return to her home, where he bids her goodnight. Her absolute innocence has conquered him. Lionel resolves to leave her in peace. He tells her he must go away. Poor Little Dutch becomes more and more quiet. One day Lise, who always delighted in torturing Little Dutch, tells her, "Your painter is poor, and ill in the great city." Little Dutch resolves to go to his assistance. She finds that with no money she cannot ride, so she resolves to walk the 200 miles. When Jean learns that Little Dutch has left for the great city, he hastens there, locates the painter's abode, and awaits the coming of Little Dutch. Finally she arrives, with holes worn through her wooden shoes, clothing bedraggled and worn, a really forlorn object. She rings the bell, the door noiselessly opens and she enters, astonished and awestruck, a large gallery filled with paintings and statues. She hears voices, follows the sound and finally locates the noise behind the curtains. She parts them and is dazzled when she sees Lionel lying on a couch, surrounded by a riotous crowd of men and very décolleté women. With a piercing scream Little Dutch turns and flees. Lionel tries to follow. Faithful Jean, although he has remained on watch outside, is not in time to prevent her from jumping into the river but he rescues her and takes her home. On her little bed she lies, surrounded by her neighbors whose sympathy is extended, alas. too late. One day she rouses herself and, placing two rosebuds in her wooden shoes, says "Send them to him," she says. One night she passes out through the open door, proceeds to the edge of the lake, and slips in among the lilies from whence she came.

Dir: Emile Chautard

Father John is a rag-picker, well known at the Halles. A good man with many good qualities he has but one defect; he is fond of the bottle. He is intoxicated when he meets Garousse, a man ruined by gambling and reduced to the humble trade of a rag-picker. He will not listen to Father John's exhortations. As it happens, a collection clerk, Didier is returning from his round. Garousse does not recoil from murdering the man and makes off with the money. It is in vain that John tries to interfere; Garousse pushes him off, half strangles him and runs away. In front of Didier's body, John swears to keep away from drink forever, and takes home with him. Marie Didier, the grandchild of the victim. Fifteen years later. Father John lives a happy life with Marie, now a dressmaker. Garousse, by means of the stolen money, has become the Baron Hoffman. He has a daughter whom he wishes to wed to Henry Berville, his partner's son. Claire Hoffman has a child from some illicit love, and she has him brought up secretly. By chance, Henry Berville, while out for a walk, comes across Marie Didier, giving alms to poor women. Baron Hoffman is informed by a telegram that he is a ruined man. He informs his daughter of the disaster and she declares she will do all she can to save him. Unfortunately. Henry Berville does not love Claire. Baron Hoffman is soon satisfied as to the reason of his refusal when, on Marie Didier being introduced, he notices the tender intimacy that seems to exist between the two young people. He decides to see to it and to put Marie out of the way of Berville. Baron Hoffman secures the assistance of Mme. Patard, a midwife, and orders, in return for 10,000 francs, the disappearance of the child; but Mme. Patard prefers to hand over the child to Marie Didier, in whose kindness she has confidence. Marie not being at home, Mme. Patard leaves the child in her place. Marie was then at a masked ball, where, insulted by some man, she had been protected by Henry. When she returns home, she finds the child. It never entered her mind to take it to the Foundling Hospital, and keeps it with her. The same night, Father John finds in his basket, the rolls of bills lost by Patard. Baron Hoffman calls on Marie, whom he has followed after a meeting with Henry, and asks her to give up the young man. Learning that the young girl has a child with her, he seeks information and soon learns, by the coincidence of dates, who it is. He writes to Mme. Patard, stating that he knows he has been duped and that her only chance of pardon lies in the disappearance of the child. 50,000 francs is to be the price of that disappearance. As soon as he is satisfied that the midwife has secured the child, he writes to the magistrate and informs him that Marie Didier has done away with the child, whom, she states, has been stolen from her. Marie is arrested. On reading the paper, Father John learns of Marie's arrest, and also the name of the person who has lost 10,000 francs in notes. He sees that it is a plot against the girl. He endeavors to find the author of that vengeance, and calls on the midwife. After some prolonged questioning, John gets hold of the facts; he understands the part played by Mme. Patard and knows that the money was paid out by the baron. He calls on him and the two men, without seeming to do so, recognize each other. Garousse-Hoffman recollects that Father John was formerly fond of drink. Forgetting his oath, Father John gets intoxicated and Garousse steals the papers containing the proof of the crime. This, however, does not deter Father John, and his desire to save Marie is not to he swerved. He finds the means to enlist the sympathy of the magistrate, and, by the aid of a detective, Mme. Patard makes a full confession. She is arrested. Accompanied by two policemen, he repairs to the baron's house, who, by means of stratagem, is made to confess that he really is the murderer of Didier. Marie Didier, upon being set free, weds Henry Berville.

Dir: Emile Chautard

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

When a judge is financially ruined by Peter Brownley, a Wall Street millionaire, his daughter seeks revenge by getting a job in the tycoon's office. She manages to discover information that she believes her father can use to recover his swindled money and do to Peter what he did to her father. However, she meets and falls in love with Robert, the son of the man who ruined her father. Complications ensue.

Dir: Emile Chautard

General Wayne, a proud old American patriot, and his two sons: Captain Stephen Wayne, an army officer, and Anthony Wayne, a successful young portrait painter, valiantly maintain the tradition of the Wayne family honor. Anthony is engaged to Doris Leighton, a girl of refinement, but he becomes infatuated with Marcia Quesnay, emotional actress and enchantress. He disgraces his family by his devotion to her, and, lured on by her demands, abandons his promising career. Stephen Wayne, meeting her in an endeavor to compel her to release Anthony from his unfortunate entanglement, falls sincerely in love with her and she with him. Later, with the dawning of this first real love of her life. Marcia renounces her butterfly life and becomes a tender and self-sacrificing woman. She returns all of Anthony's gifts, giving them to Stephen for safe keeping. In order to disillusion Anthony she causes him to believe she is only a common woman and he turns from her in disgust. Led on by Eric Mainwaring, an actor in love with Marcia, who tells Anthony that Marcia is a woman to be bought and not loved, Anthony is persuaded to steal from his father's safe government funds placed there by Stephen, and is cheated of the money at cards by Eric. Stephen, discovering the theft, goes to Marcia's apartment to confront her with the result of her influence over Anthony, and is there in time to rescue her from Eric, who comes with the money he has cheated from Anthony, to persuade Marcia to go abroad with him. Stephen forces Eric to disgorge the stolen funds and to leave in fear o£ the authorities. The following morning Anthony, penniless, an outcast and a thief, is saved from committing suicide by Doris. His father discovering the theft and accusing Anthony, urges him on to suicide, telling his son that honorable death is better than a life of dishonor. Stephen arrives with Marcia in time to avert the tragedy, telling a lie to save Anthony in the eyes of his father and Doris, that it was he (Stephen) who took the money from the safe, at the same time producing the bills to substantiate his claim. A general reconciliation follows. When his father sees Marcia standing beside Stephen he fears that this other son has been ensnared, but Stephen tells them that they have all misjudged her, and that she is going to enhance the family honor by becoming his wife.

Dir: Emile Chautard

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Father John; or, The Ragpicker of Paris perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Emile Chautard

Perpetua is a rich little orphan with a guardian very much older than herself. This man is an absent-minded dreamer, unaware of his responsibility to Perpetua. The girl wants to live in her guardian's house, but instead is sent to her father's half-sister, Miss Majerdie, an angular spinster of 60 with a predilection for monkeys, parrots, cats, and dogs. Perpetua is not happy in this antique environment, so she runs away and forces herself upon her guardian, Thaddeus. He endures her for a time and finally ships her back to his sister's. The pretty girl is pursued by several suitors whose ardor cools when she is said to be not worth a cent. And here the moody guardian steps in. He has loved the girl but her wealth has prevented him from declaring his affection for her. But now that she is poor, he doesn't hesitate to offer himself.

Dir: Emile Chautard

Vivacious little Gilberte, known as Frou Frou, is the daughter of M. Brigard, a retired merchant, who has as his companion in a life of gaiety, Comte Paul de Valreas, a much younger man. Both the Count and Henry de Sartorys are in love with Frou Frou, and when De Sartorys asks for the hand of Frou Frou, M. Brigard refers him to Louise, the elder daughter, who is in charge of the household. To Louise, who loves de Sartorys, comes the first anguish of her life, when he confides his love for Frou Frou. However, she confers with her little sister who agrees to marry De Sartorys. Paul also asks for Frou Frou's hand, but Brigard refuses, stating he is too jolly a companion to be trusted as a son-in-law. Five years pass, and although Frou Frou adores her son Georgie, the calm role of a homemaker does not suit her, and on one of Louise's visits she realizes her own place has been usurped, as both De Sartorys and Georgie go to her for advice. Paul still loves Frou Frou, but she fights against her growing attraction for him, and begs him to go away. Finding she is no longer necessary for the happiness of her husband and son, after a furious tirade against Louise, she leaves and joins Paul in Venice. Paul's mother receives her, and the next day, De Sartorys, who has followed, finds her, and despite her pleas, fights a duel with Paul, in which Paul is killed. Out of the loneliness and sorrow of the ensuing months her soul is chastened, and she returns to ask her husband one last favor, that she be allowed to die in the house she entered as a bride. Although Louise also pleads for her he at first refuses; but when Frou Frou, formerly so light-hearted and care-free, pleads on her knees, he can no longer deny her, and the two meet in a tearful embrace. Her life closes with a semblance of happiness, as she gives to Louise the two that are closest to her, her husband and son.