Hand-Picked Alternatives for Fans of Sisters of the Golden Circle: Cult Guide

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

Mary Horton, a country girl, moves to New York to make her living as a seamstress, where she meets Hilda Newton, an old neighbor who has renounced her country ways for the immoral life of the city. Mary moves in with Hilda and meets Bob Merrick who, charmed by the girl's innocence determines to protect her. Just as she is about to succumb to evil influences, Mary is called home to her mother's sickbed where she is denounced for her evil ways by her former sweetheart, Horace Worth. However, when Hilda's friends decide to visit Mary, Bob Merrick defends her reputation and proposes to her. The couple decide to remain in Mary's country village, while Hilda and her friends return to the city.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

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

Socialite Leslie Brown, little more than an innocent schoolgirl, becomes engaged to wealthy playboy Dustan Renshaw who has broken his engagement with Janet Preece in order to marry a woman of breeding. After they are married, the Renshaws live abroad where one day, in her husband's absence, Leslie welcomes her friends the Stonehays as her guests, accompanied by their private secretary, Janet Preece. Janet's sudden illness compels her to remain with Leslie after her employers have departed, and the two women become fast friends. Leslie learns the story of Janet's betrayal by a man known to her only as "D. R.," and is shocked to learn upon Dustan's return that Janet's betrayer was none other than her own husband. Leslie leaves Dustan, but, with the passage of time, husband and wife are reunited at Janet's deathbed when Leslie learns to forgive her husband's past.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

Rosa Roma, an aspiring singer, is signed by backer Ogden Ward on condition that she not fall in love, appear in public, or use her own name. But she meets composer Griffith Ames, falls in love with him, and stars in his new opera. When Ward upbraids her, Rosa tries to satisfy her contract by means of a ruby necklace, which he has been secretly trying to obtain through devious means, but the rubies are stolen. Ames is accused of the theft, but the culprit finally confesses, and Rosa is reunited with Ames and her rubies.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

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

Eddie Gillian, a wild young New Yorker, lives well on a generous allowance given to him by Old Bryson, his crabby uncle. Eddie loves Bryson's ward, Margaret Hayden, but spends most of his time with Lotta Lauriere, a burlesque queen. After Bryson's death, Eddie is shocked to learn that he has been left only $1,000, which the will advises him to spend prudently and unselfishly. When Lotta discovers this and deserts him, Eddie gives the money to Margaret, who has inherited only $10, telling her that it is rightfully hers. Bryson's lawyer then informs Eddie that he will inherit half a million provided that he spend the $1,000 generously, and although Eddie attempts to turn that, too, over to Margaret, she agrees to share it with him as his wife.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

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

Impulsive flapper Elizabeth Winthrop, rebels against her parents and moves to New York after breaking with her fiance, Clayton Webster. Hugo Von Strohm, a wealthy playboy, procures Elizabeth a job as a chorus dancer and secretly pays her salary. After he tries to seduce her, Elizabeth sees through his kindnesses and returns to her parents and Clayton.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

The defense attorney who was unable to obtain the acquittal of an innocent young man concocts a complicated and diabolical scheme to revenge himself upon the prosecutor.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Tobin's Palm perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Ruth Hamilton, from a wealthy aristocratic family, cares little for society or its conventions and refuses the proposal of William Barton, a socialite of her parents' choice. While giving some poor children an outing on a beach, Ruth meets John Martin (Miles?), a young nouveau riche with no social standing who is snubbed by the aristocratic circles, and begins to visit him secretly. When Ruth visits John to show off a new costume, her father arrives to seek his financial aid. Ruth escapes, but she is observed by Barton, who informs her father. Hamilton insists that Martin marry his daughter, but Ruth refuses to be compromised by her father. Later, however, she consents to marry John, discovering that he really loves her.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

To help her husband keep his job, a woman gives in to her employer's advances. When the husband finds out, he kills his rival.

Dir: Kenneth S. Webb

Young Nell loses her job and home and her father is sent to prison. She joins the Salvation Army and tries to redeem him when he comes out bent on continuing his life of crime.