Essential Cult Cinema Mirroring the Impact of She: Cult Guide

Dir: Kenean Buel

The Hawaiian Princess Laone's love for Keith Parrish is thwarted by social pressure. After being persuaded to refuse Mr. Parrish's proposal, she attempts suicide.

Dir: Kenean Buel

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Wolfe; or, the Conquest of Quebec perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

General Wolfe, appointed commander of the expedition against Quebec, comes to bid his mother goodbye. Before sailing, the general calls upon his sweetheart, Katherine Lowther. She presents him with a locket containing a miniature of herself. Wolfe places the jewel on a chain about his neck. Mignon Mars and her brother, Hubert, of a Canadian family, are captured by a body of men attached to the Royal Americans. Lieutenant Arleigh, the officer in charge, secures their release. Mignon loses her heart to the young officer. General Montcalm arrives at Quebec and takes command of the French forces. Under his supervision, fortifications are erected on the isle of Orleans, to protect the approach to the city. The general gains the enmity of Vaudreuil, the vainglorious governor, when he protects Mignon Mars from the unwelcome attentions of the latter. Mignon's brother enlists in the French army and is made an officer. The English fleet carrying Wolfe's men arrives off the Isle of Orleans. Wolfe entices the Canadian pilots aboard his vessel by raising the French flag. The pilots are compelled to take the fleet up the river, under penalty of death. Mignon discovers Wolfe's ruse and rides to warn Montcalm of the approach of the English fleet. Wolfe lands his soldiers on the Isle of Orleans, twelve miles below Quebec. The fleet then proceeds up the river and anchors before Quebec. In an effort to destroy the fleet, Montcalm prepares to fire the ships. But the wind and the tide are against the French, and the fire ships drift ashore. Under orders from the young commander-in-chief, Monckton, one of the British generals, seizes Point Levis, overlooking Quebec. Wolfe offers amnesty to the Canadians who lay down arms. The inhabitants, however, prove unruly. Later, the English batter away at Quebec, with the fortifications at Point Levis and the guns of the fleet. The bombardment does terrific destruction, houses being rattled by the shot and shell, while fires, caused by the rain of death, spring up everywhere. Bushwackers attack the Chateau Mars, on the Isle of Orleans, the home of Mignon. The girl and her father are in dire peril, when Wolfe and his men approach and drive the renegades before them. Wolfe makes the chateau his headquarters. Wolfe orders an attack on the French redoubts above Montmorenci Falls. The impetuosity of the Grenadiers leads them to disobey orders, with the result that the English are compelled to retreat, after a desperate battle. The approach of the Highlanders, who cover the retreat of the army, saves the English from annihilation. Lieutenant Arleigh strives in vain to check the retreat. Fighting like a hero, he is shot by an Indian, a Caughnawaga ally of the French. The redskin is about to scalp the young soldier when Hubert Mars comes to the rescue. The Canadian saves Arleigh's life, but is himself desperately wounded. Wolfe is greatly downcast by the defeat. He returns to the chateau in dejection. Mignon looks in vain for her English lover. She learns that he is among the missing. Setting forth, she searches the battlefield among the dead and wounded. Mignon hears that Hubert is wounded and goes to the hospital to see him. To her delight, she sees Arleigh lying on the cot next to her brother. Mignon returns to the chateau and reports to Wolfe that his young aide is captured. That night, Arleigh makes his escape by changing cots with a French soldier who has died. He dons the man's uniform and leaves the hospital. Later, Arleigh succeeds in escaping through the French lines. He swims out to the English fleet. The following day, Mignon returns to the hospital and is informed that Arleigh is dead and has just been buried. Heartbroken, she returns home with the sad news. Wolfe is stricken with a fatal illness and learns that he cannot recover. During his sickness, his brigadiers recommend an attack without his knowledge. Wolfe learns of it. Despite his weakness, the commander-in-chief rises from his bed and goes to take command. In his escape, Arleigh has learned of Montcalm's intention to send boats and supplies down the river at nightfall. He returns to the chateau and delivers his information to Wolfe. Mignon is overjoyed to find her sweetheart safe. Wolfe learns of a narrow path leading up the mountain side to the Plains of Abraham. The English troops are sent down the river and due to the password given by Arleigh are enabled to slip by the French sentries. All night long the English toil up the mountainside. When morning dawns, they are drawn up in battle array on the Plains of Abraham. The fight commences. Montcalm, emerging from his tent, grows uneasy when he hears the sound of firing. He learns of the state of affairs. The bugles summon the French troops to battle and they march forth to the Plains of Abraham. Montcalm calls upon Vaudreuil, the governor, for assistance, but that cowardly official refuses to render aid. The French approach within firing distance of their foe. Wolfe delivers a stirring address to his men as the French approach. The battle commences. The opposing forces come together with a clash that sends both sides reeling. Forward they spring, slashing and stabbing like madmen. Wolfe is in the thickest of the fray. A shot strikes him. He falls. A tremendous shouting arrests his agony. "They run, they run," cries one of his aides. "Who runs?" gasps Wolfe. "The enemy." "Now God be praised," the dying man whispers, "I die happy." At the same moment, Montcalm, desperately striving to check the rout, is mortally wounded. The French commander is carried to his headquarters. He is informed that his wound is mortal. "How long shall I live? Twelve hours more or less? So much the better. I am happy that I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec," he gasps. Wolfe's body is placed aboard the English flagship to commence its journey to the land for which he gave his life. Seated in a boat on the river, Arleigh and his bride, Mignon, watch the vessel sailing out towards the setting sun.

Dir: Kenean Buel

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Kenean Buel

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

Billy Martin is sent to New York to put through a war contract for his father, a new England manufacturer, and takes $100,000 as a security. The munition broker's secretary, a crook, tells Graham, a gambling house keeper, of Billy's coming. Miller is detailed to lure him to the gambling house. Miller, posing as the broker's representative, meets Billy and offers to show him New York life. He meets Zena and is so captivated that he consents to try his luck at the roulette wheel. After his first success he loses rapidly. At last Zena drags him away with only $15,000 left. Zena repentant, tries to comfort Billy. She finds he is determined to win back his losses and is captivated by his pluck. Reluctantly she takes him to the gambling house. Billy loses all. When the mail brings no word from Billy, his wife comes to New York. She enters his room just after he and Zena arrive. Zena hides in a closet. Billy refuses to return with his wife until he has recovered his father's money. Zeena returns to her apartment. Graham accuses her of double-crossing him. She orders him to leave. Zena sets out to recover Billy's money, and returns to the gambling house. Graham thinks she has repented. Martin comes to New York for Billy. Zena picks him out as the man from whom to get the money. She lures him to her den. Billy calls up, and when Zena recognizes his voice she hangs up. Suspecting Zena has deceived him Billy rushes to the apartment and finds her embracing his father. Zena rushes to him. Billy casts her off. Martin tells Billy he did this to show the treachery of Zena's love. Heaping abuse on Zena, who sees her one true love lost, Billy leaves with his father. Zena in remorse leaves her old home and life, a wreck. Billy asks his father's forgiveness. "I forgive you," says the old man, "but I can't forget that I trusted you."

Dir: Kenean Buel

Colette is a model who poses for two artist brothers, Don and Andrien Walcott. Andrien, a hunchback, creates a beautiful portrait of her which is seen by evil Bulgarian Prince Vacarra. The prince tracks her down and locks her in.

Dir: Kenean Buel

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

After her husband's death in the West, Mrs. Lehr, a young widow who grew up in Cuttleback, decides to return there with her two daughters, Jane and Katherine, and make her home on the old family estate which had been looked after in her absence by Job Jenkins, a caretaker who had been in the Lehr family's employ since boyhood, and by now he has been the estate's sole occupant for so many years that he regards it as part of his life, and is disturbed when his mistress returns with her children. Daniel Whitcomb, Cuttleback's leading attorney, reads with interest the notice in Cuttleback's newspaper about Mrs. Lehr's intended return, and ponders the romance that connected his and her life before she left for the West. He wonders if her return will awaken the old-time affection he felt she once had for him. He remembered that before she left Cuttleback she asked him to see her, but his mothers desperate illness prevented him. He had written, but his letter did not reach her until she was the wife of another. She replied informing him of her marriage and hinting at her disappointment in his not having seen her before she left, but absolving him from any intention to purposely slight her. It happened that Mrs. Lehr and Mr. Whitcomb did renew their old love story. While this goes on, her little girls make things hum around the estate and tax old Job's patience to its limit. The girls form a warm attachment to slow-witted handyman "Manny," who finds time between chores to amuse them and become their faithful attendant. One day Job's belongings are removed from his room and the faithful old gardener drops out of sight, on a day when a barn on the Lehr estate is destroyed by fire. A charred skull found in the ruins forms the basis for a murder charge brought against dull-witted Manny by the town constable. Mrs. Lehr believes him guiltless, but can't prove his innocence, and the children "just know" he never killed Job or anybody else, but, like their mother, can't prove it. Mrs. Lehr seeks Daniel Whitcomb's aid, but he refuses her plea and states his belief that Manny is guilty. This breaks up his love affair with Mrs. Lehr and earns him the dislike of her daughters. Manny is tried and convicted, wholly upon circumstantial evidence, and he's being led to the electric chair when the girls arrive with the supposed victim Job, whom they had accidentally found and who knew nothing of Manny's predicament. Everything is cleared up and Katherine and Jane get a new daddy.

Dir: Kenean Buel

This picture opens on the big, helpless humanity which is huddled together in Blossom Street, in the East Side's slums. The sweetest spirit of the thousands dwelling there is Anne, in love with Jimmy Graves, a man she knows is a crook. In warning Jimmy one night that the police are on his trail, she is caught in the maelstrom, brought into court with him and sentenced to jail. When she is released she plots revenge on the man who put her behind the bars, Judge Marcus, about to be nominated for a higher position in public service. Through a ruse, she obtains employment in the Marcus household. The Judge does not recognize in his wife's secretary the same woman who was once just a "poor, Blossom Street thing." He finds that he is rapidly falling in love with her. Anne is approached by a stool pigeon working for Marcus's political opponents, who are trying to fasten a scandal upon the Judge. Anne promises to aid them. She agrees to put him in a compromising position that evening, when witnesses will be on hand. Meantime, Jimmy Graves is released. He has been living through the years of his prison term, with the face of Anne always before him. He learns that the girl is at the Marcus home, and starts for the house. As the hour for the denouement draws near, Anne realizes she loves Marcus. He kisses her again and again. She notices the clock and pushes him from her just before the curtains are thrust back by the politicians and Mrs. Marcus. Jimmy arrives, and in the face of her love for Marcus, she sacrifices herself that the judge may win.

Dir: Kenean Buel

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

Young Margaret Walsh's husband dies while on a polar expedition. Grief-stricken, she consents to marry Morgan Delafield, a much-older man who is a close friend of her father. However, it's not long before she falls in love with Stephen Bond, a man who's actually younger than she is. While she tries to resist her feelings for Stephen to not endanger her marriage, gossip about the pair nevertheless begins to make the rounds, with unintended consequences for all concerned.

Dir: Kenean Buel

Alice Lindsay arrives in New York from a small town and becomes part of Greenwich Village Bohemian life. Alice resists the advances of Gwenne Stevens, an advocate of free love, and marries civil engineer Samson Rathbone.

Dir: Kenean Buel

A woman writes about her sister's tragedy, vowing to help others in similar situations: Because Bettina longs to leave her country home, her loving mother sends her and her serious-minded elder sister to London, accepting their aunt's invitation to visit and allow Bettina to be introduced to society. The girls' dressmaker steals the aunt's photograph and sends it to a woman who, disguised as their aunt, leads the girls to a brothel. After the elder sister escapes, aided by her concerned male companion, she races in a cab to her aunt's home, but is frustrated in her attempt to rescue Bettina by her aunt's infirm state, the inefficiency of the police, and her own inability to remember the location of the house. She finds her cab driver, but he is drunk and soon dies in an accident. After falling ill, the sister, convinced by a dream that Bettina has died, resolves to devote her life to saving other women.