Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of Shadows of the Mou...

Dir: Alice Guy

A family drama centered on the domestic life of a couple named Manning. The story explores the stability of their marriage and the challenges they face within their social environment during the early twentieth century.

Dir: Alice Guy

The story revolves about a young woman who is forced to enter the Russian Secret Service on the threat that if she did not do so her father, an active Nihilist, would be put to death. Before her own eyes he is tortured in the prison and to stop these inhuman tortures, she falls in with the plan to rout out the Nihilist organization. In the furtherance of their designs, the Secret Service authorities introduce her into the home of Prince Cyril, who is suspected of being in sympathy with the Revolutionists. She unwillingly does her task, which is made very easy by Prince Cyril's admiration for her personally and his sympathy with her father's plight. He introduces her into his circle of radicals, but before very long a dramatic scene develops that places her under suspicion. During a meeting of the radicals, she disappears in the secret recesses of their subterranean meeting-place and the most vigorous search for her proves of no avail. After the meeting breaks up and the conspirators leave in a spirit of unrest, she emerges from her hiding-place in a well and guided by an image of her father suffering in his prison, she purloins evidence for the Government. In the meantime, Prince Cyril, guided by traces she had left, follows her to her home and persuades her to return the incriminating papers. However, when Government officials arrive and are told that she had been unsuccessful in her attempt to aid them, her servant, who is spying on her, betrays Prince Cyril's visit. They bind her and leave her in charge of two soldiers, while the others in haste gallop off after the Prince. In the meantime, one of the soldiers, who is secretly in league with the Revolutionists, aids her in making escape. Prince Cyril, after a very sensational chase, is captured and imprisoned. With the aid of this soldier she is able later on to meet the Government General, who, completely disarmed by her innocent charms, falls a victim to her scheme to liberate her father and the Prince. However, before she succeeds in this plan, she undergoes considerable suffering and agonizing suspense. The Cossacks trace her and those whom she had liberated from prison to their subterranean hiding-place, but by vigilance and careful planning they make their escape to America after blowing up their former abode with bombs planted by the Russian soldiers.

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

Dir: Alice Guy

To celebrate the sale of his painting "The Empress", Louis de Baudry invites his model, Nedra for a holiday in the country. After de Baudry has forced his way into Nedra's room, the hotel owner, Peters, photographs the two of them smiling. A year later, Nedra is married to rich Eric Bruce. Peters has blackmail on his mind.

Dir: Alice Guy

A young boy hears wondrous tales of London, where the streets are paced with gold. He leaves his country home to see his fortune in London.

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

Dir: Alice Guy

Persis Cabot, daughter of a multi-millionaire meets a young officer, Harvey Forbes, coming from the Philippines and they fall in love. Owing to her father's financial reverses, it is impossible for her to marry Harvey Forbes. She contracts a marriage with Willie Enslee, whose immense fortune makes it possible for her to reinstate her father and give her all the luxuries she has been used to. The marriage is a failure. Persis meets Forbes at a reception given by the Ambassador and they both confess their love to each other. Persis discovers a liaison of her husband with a former mistress and decides that she has a right to take the love which Forbes offers her. On the first occasion of their being alone together, Willie Enslee discovers them and accuses Persis of infidelity. Forbes commands her to choose between them. Persis refuses, and Forbes leaves her in desperation. Left alone together Willie, maddened by jealousy, stabs his wife. A newspaper reporter visits the house and gains information which leads him to believe that Forbes is implicated in the attempted murder. He also visits Forbes and informs him of the fact that Persis has been stabbed by her husband. Forbes hurries back to the Enslee home and tells Persis that he will take her with him, even though she is not willing to go, as they are mated to each other. After the necessary divorce proceedings have been obtained, Persis marries Harvey Forbes.

Dir: Alice Guy

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Dick Whittington and his Cat perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Alice Guy

A story of a female motorist that is brought to a resort in the Airondacks. Once brought in to heal from her wounds the male patrons find out that she has a rather bewitching way with men with total disregard of her ways.

Dir: Alice Guy

Ragna "Rags" Jansen has found local success and acclaim in her small town as an actress, but dreams of stardom on Broadway.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of What Will People Say? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Alice Guy

Farm girl Dorothy Miller dreams of becoming a writer, much to the chagrin of her old-fashioned father, who believes that a woman's place is in the home. While in the fields one day, Dorothy meets a young artist who has come to the country to paint landscapes. Attracted by her beauty, the artist urges Dorothy to visit him in the city. After his departure, Dorothy decides to run away to the city in order to realize her ambitions. There she and the artist fall in love and Dorothy becomes one of a settlement of artists residing in the Latin quarter where she writes the story of her experiences. The book, with accompanying illustrations by the artist, is accepted by a well-known publishing house whose head is the father of the artist, estranged from his son because he insisted upon pursuing a career in art. As he reads Dorothy's book, and later as Dorothy's father reads his daughter's book, both parents come to understand the motivations of their children and reconciliations are effected.

Dir: Alice Guy

Charlotte Baker is drugged and taken to a brothel by Paul, her fiance, who in reality is a pimp. To find her, Charlotte's family contacts the celebrated detective Bob Macauley whose sweetheart Sylvia is a struggling salesgirl and the sole support of her ailing mother. When she is turned down for promotion by her boss, Sylvia applies for a position with a kindly woman who has offered her help. To her horror, Sylvia soon discovers that the woman is a madame and has lured her to the same house of ill repute in which Charlotte is being held captive. Meanwhile, searching for Charlotte, Bob visits the brothel disguised as a gasman and discovers that Sylvia is a resident. Thinking that she is there willingly, Bob upbraids her, but upon discovering the truth he rescues her as well as Charlotte and delivers Paul to the authorities.