The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of Sister Against ...

Dir: Herbert Brenon

Millionaire "Merry" Perry Merrithew is found dead on the roof of an East Side tenement. The strands of red hair clutched in his hands implicate four auburn-haired women in the murder: a millionaire's daughter, Merrithew's mistress, the daughter of a bankrupt society woman, and a cabaret dancer. In solving the crime, Dr. Clinton Worthing performs heroic deeds.

Dir: Herbert Brenon

To a rooming house which has fallen on hard times comes The Stranger, an unknown but gentle man who is given the back room on the third floor. His arrival marks a change in the lives of all the boarders, from the girl resisting her parents' pleas that she marry the lecherous Mr. Wright, to an architect and a pianist, both of whose dreams are near destruction from their own discouragement.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Passing of the Third Floor Back perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Herbert Brenon

A dramatization of the Russian revolution and the influence upon the Russian royal family of the famous "mad monk," Rasputin.

Dir: Herbert Brenon

In her third picture, Bara is the wife-vampire.

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

Dir: Herbert Brenon

Maryland Calvert lives in that section of Maryland divided against itself in the question of secession. Her brother Floyd is so strong a Northern sympathizer that he joins the Federal secret service unknown to his family and enlists in the Southern army to increase his efficiency. Her fiancé, Alan Kendrick, takes a commission in the Federal Army, although his father becomes a general in the Confederate forces. One Thorpe, a discredited Union officer, is given an opportunity to serve the Federal secret service and in that capacity, joins the Confederate army, becoming an aide to General Kendrick, whose headquarters are at the Calvert mansion. Alan Kendrick is among the Northern prisoners taken by the Confederates and when sent for exchange is recognized by Thorpe, whose bitter hatred has been aroused by the part the gallant Unionist had in his former discovery and degradation for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Learning the Federal plans of campaign from Lloyd Calvert, who believes him to be a loyal member of the Federal secret service, he takes advantage of this knowledge to attempt the destruction of the Union camp to which Alan Kendrick has been sent, thereby hoping to encompass Alan's death. Thorpe fails, but Alan, taking a desperate chance to visit Maryland Calvert, is captured in a Confederate uniform and sentenced to death as a spy. Maryland Calvert, hysterical over the death of her brother Lloyd, who was shot down while trying to "run the lines" with information, is unconsciously responsible for Alan's denunciation and conviction as a spy. When she realizes his situation, Maryland braves the hazardous ordeal to reach the Union lines and secures from General Hooker a written request upon General Kendrick to delay Alan's execution until facts may be presented proving his innocence of espionage can be established. Her return finds General Kendrick dead on the battlefield, the treacherous Thorpe in supreme command and Alan imprisoned in a church awaiting momentary execution. When Maryland presents her letter to Thorpe he realizes his supreme opportunity for revenge is at hand. He orders a squad to dispatch Alan and proceeds to force his unwelcome attentions upon Maryland. With her lover standing bound before her awaiting death, Maryland is driven to such a frenzy that she plunges a bayonet into Thorpe. He falls unconscious and she releases Alan, gives him Thorpe's hat and coat as a disguise, and bids him fly for his sake as well as her own. A moment later when Thorpe regains consciousness and orders an alarm sounded. Maryland recalls that the old church-bell is the agreed tocsin. Dashing up the creaking stairs she reaches the highest spot in the belfry and clinging to the enormous clapper swings from it in its dizzy flight, using her frail hands as a muffler to kill all sound. The deaf sexton tolls away at the rope unconscious of the fact his labor is in vain. Maryland is made a prisoner and is about to be executed in her own home, when Alan appears at the head of the Union troops. Thorpe would use her as a shield to compel Alan to fire upon his beloved or abandon the attack, but at the crucial moment he is removed from command by order of General Lee, who has learned of his perfidy. Alan Kendrick grants the Confederates a truce to cover their retreat and the drama ends with a blissful reunion of the lovers.

Dir: Herbert Brenon

When Marcel, a waif, saves master crook Burke from the police, Burke adopts the youngster and teaches him his profession. Years later, Marcel has become a master crook himself, working under the name of Michael Lanyard. His clever work baffles the Paris police, who dub him "The Lone Wolf". The Pack, a gang of criminals, notifies The Wolf that unless he joins them, he is marked for destruction. Lucy, an undercover agent masquerading as a crook to expose the gang, helps The Wolf escape. This inaugurates a series of adventures in which Lucy and The Wolf are pursued by the gang, finally making their escape to England by plane. The Pack follows, only to meet their death in a plane crash. Liberated from his tormentors, The Wolf vows to go straight and marries Lucy.

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

Dir: Herbert Brenon

Back from a crusade, the hero of Sir Walter Scott's novel fights for courtly love and Saxon honor.

Dir: Herbert Brenon

Gennaro, the son of Lucretia Borgia, lives unaware of the identity of his mother, who has married the Duke of Ferrara. After Lucretia's brother is killed by five conspirators, the fathers of Gennaro's dearest friends, Lucretia tortures the old men to death. Later, Gennaro and his companions journey to Lucretia's domain, and she sees her son for the first time. The Duke, who believes him to be her lover, poisons him, but Lucretia administers the antidote in time and saves his life. Then she schemes to poison her sons' five friends for their fathers' mistake. She succeeds in poisoning them all at a dinner at which Gennaro is an uninvited guest. In dismay, she pleads for him to take the antidote, but he refuses and in a fury avenges his friends by stabbing Lucretia. As he lies dying, he learns that she was his mother.

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

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Herbert Brenon

A French orphan girl is adopted by a wealthy British nobleman. The family lives happily, unaware that a plot is afoot to kidnap the girl and make away with the nobleman's fortune.