Hidden Genre Gems In Alignment with the style of Skinner's Bubble: Cult Guide

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Beneath the moonlight of the southern skies Molly Carrington, daughter of the south, pledges her heart and hand to "Jimmie" Maxwell on the eve of the young man's departure to New York, where his knowledge or cotton has won him a good position in a cotton broker's office. They are married and depart for the metropolis. Due to Maxwell's transition from his calm and uneventful home life to the maelstrom of worldly battle, he succumbs to liquor's lure, and from a stalwart husband is dragged to the depths or Demon Rum's depravity. He loses his position and Molly leaves him, returning to her southern home. As a "down-and-outer" Maxwell sees in a Mobile paper a rumor that his wife plans to divorce him and marry his former rival. Alfred Lewis. His smoldering love for Molly flares up to expose vividly the curse which drink has placed upon him. Maxwell throws off his alcoholic yoke, becomes a man again, and wins back his position. He finds Molly waiting for him the first day he enters the office.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Man and His Money perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Inheriting a fortune allows Harry Lathrop to indulge in extravagant spending and wild wine parties with chorus girls, decides to change his ways after his childhood sweetheart, Betty Dalrymple, gives back her engagement ring because he arrives drunk for dinner. Disgusted with himself on a "morning after," Harry persuades his attorney to give him no money for the next year. In another city, Harry answers an ad for a handy man and becomes the manager of a kennel on the estate of Mrs. Johnston DeLong, Betty's aunt. Betty, visiting her aunt, scorns Harry, but he remains when he sees Walter Randall, whose chauffeur brags that "every dame falls for him," show an interest in Betty. When Betty does not succumb to Randall's advances, he takes her to a deserted cabin. Harry follows, fights Randall and the chauffeur, and rescues Betty, who embraces him in a downpour.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

When the wild Bohemian life style of Greenwich Village has destroyed successful novelist Tom Blake's ability to write, his publisher refuses to advance him more money until he forsakes that environment. A friend of Tom's arranges for him to become the boarder of her Southern friend Eugenia, a fledgling writer inspired by Tom's first novel, so he can find the quiet he needs for work. Using an assumed name, Tom is introduced to Eugenia's proud, aristocratic grandmother as a guest, since she would never condescend to taking in boarders. Toby, the Black servant, defers to Tom, but does not give him the elaborate, courtly bow he reserves for family members. After Tom helps turn Eugenia's poor manuscript into a novel by virtually rewriting it himself, the book's success allows Eugenia to pay the estate's mortgage, but, when she learns Tom's identity, she furiously declares that she wants no charity. After experiencing Greenwich Village however, Eugenia returns, forgives Tom, and they marry. Tom then receives his long-awaited bow from Toby.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

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

Destitute, Hazel Farron is offered employment and comfort from bakery owner David Rogers. When Rogers' bakery slips into debt, he collapses from exhaustion and anxiety, forcing Hazel to turn to former admirer Geoffrey Stanhope for financial aid. Stanhope consents in return for a night alone with Hazel, but when she arrives at his hotel room for the appointed tryst, she discovers Stanhope waiting with Rogers and a minister so that Hazel can marry her employer.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

DR. John Lancaster lives in dread of a family secret from his past being exposed, and makes him act in irrational ways, even with his fiancée Joan Wentworth.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

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

Wealthy Easterner Dick Latham, determined to disprove his father Amos' accusation that he is an idler, rides the rails West to the mining town of Twin Bridges. Hugh Godson, the town's corrupt political boss, appoints Dick sheriff, supposing him an easily manipulated tenderfoot. To Godson's dismay, Dick proceeds to clean up Twin Bridges, closing the saloons and gambling dens, and forcing even the most hardened miners to attend church. Godson schemes to cheat Rosa Crimmins and her ailing father out of their ranch, which is rich in gold deposits, but Dick foils the plot and makes Rosa his deputy. When Dick learns that some rich Easterners are gambling in the hotel, he arrests them all, despite the fact that his father is among them. Amos, proud of his son's newfound manliness, buys the Crimmins ranch and gives his hearty approval to Dick and Rosa's romance.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Margaret Sherwood's fiancé has disappeared in the Arctic and she hasn't heard from him in two years. Yet she does not believe he died. Price Latham, in love with Margaret, offers to organize a new expedition to prove otherwise. In return, she promises to marry Latham, come what may. Latham sneakily tries to sabotage the trip but Providence, in the form of an Eskimo hunter with a spike, dispenses Margaret from keeping her word. The fiancé, found at last, takes the young girl back to friendlier skies under the northern lights.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

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

A struggling young composer of genius completes a masterpiece score for an opera, only to have it stolen by a less talented composer who rises to great success with it.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Lord and Lady Algy separate on cordial terms, after he breaks his promise not to gamble again on the horses. When the wife of soap magnate Brabazon Tudway, is courted by Algy's philandering elder brother, Algy tries to help his brother escape Tudway's wrath by hiding Mrs. Tudway in his apartments. Tudway discovers her there and is about to accuse Algy when Lady Algy appears and, believing Algy to be innocent, tells Tudway that his wife was there to meet her. Although Algy and his jockey disgrace Lady Algy by getting drunk at a masked ball on the eve of the Grand Derby, the race in which Algy plans to stake his entire fortune on his pet racehorse, Lady Algy saves his fortune by betting her own money on a dark horse that wins. Algy know penitent, swears he will give up gambling forever, thus reuniting with his loving wife.

Dir: Harry Beaumont

Having followed the road of romance through many countries, Lord Quex finally falls in love with Muriel Eden. After resisting Lord Quex because of his reputation, Muriel finally capitulates to his charms and agrees to marry him. In her heart, however, Muriel still treasures an affection for Caption Bastling, a fortune hunting womanizer, and when Muriel is told of Lord Quex's continuing contact with the Duchess of Dowager, a situation brought about through the scheming of the Duchess, Muriel turns to Bastling and agrees to meet him at her friend Sophie Fullgarney's manicurist shop. There, Sophie, who has discovered Bastling's true nature, exposes the captain by flirting with him as Muriel arrives for her rendezvous. Seeing Bastling faithlessness makes Muriel realize that Quex is the man for her.