Hand-Picked Alternatives Movies That Echo the Spirit of Snares of P...

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

In an old Scottish village near Edinburgh, the schoolteacher, Adam Harden, is a lovable character, a faith healer who keeps people happy and well. His shepherd son David is in love with Peggy Laughlin, the niece of the town's man of wealth, Sir Kent MacGregor, who wishes her to marry a member of the nobility. Schemers George Kyle, an unsuccessful doctor, and his housekeeper, Meg Harper, try to bring about this marriage to benefit themselves by pretending that Kyle is the missing nephew of the deceased Lady Murrell. Peggy is in love with David, however, and falls ill as she is about to marry Kyle. Doctors cannot seem to restore her to health. Relenting, MacGregor has the faith healer Adam and his son David released from jail where he had them placed, and Adam cures Peggy. The schemers, Kyle and Meg, are found out and arrested, and MacGregor is now only too glad to give Peggy in marriage to David.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

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

A doctor's typist Shirley Brown lives vicariously through the romance novels written by Philip Smith. When the author comes to live at her boardinghouse, her admiration is fostered by sympathy upon realizing that her idol is losing his eyesight and that it can only be saved by a specialist in Italy. Sacrificing herself to help Philip, Molly makes him believe that she is an old maid who has been waiting forty years to find a husband, and she induces him to marry her in return for $5,000, half the legacy she is to receive on her wedding day. Philip consents, travels to Italy and regains his sight after which he becomes interested in Marion Sutherland. Upon returning, he neglects Shirley, who decides to kindle her husband's interest by disguising herself as an Alsatian maid in his employ. After several adventures, Philip realizes that he is in love with his maid, who then reveals herself to be his wife.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

Hoping to reconcile her divorced parents, Norris Gradley remains with her father, Giles, after he marries another woman. The new Mrs. Gradley snubs and mistreats Norris, who earns money by disguising herself as a boy and playing the violin at dances. Claude Wolcott, employed by Giles to drill oil wells, falls in love with Norris. When Giles discovers Rodney Bates trying to rekindle his romance with Mrs. Gradley, Claude prevents his employer from committing murder. The enraged Mrs. Gradley rushes from the house and falls to her death into an abyss. Norris reunites her parents and marries Claude.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

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

After wealthy young socialite Myra Hastings ensnares her latest victim, Kent Whitney, the son of an "oil can millionaire," Bob Harkness, one of her rejected suitors, warns Kent of Myra's flirtatious and fickle nature. Together they concoct a scheme to teach her a lesson. Kent invites Myra home to meet his family, and she goes, expecting to find an atmosphere of elegance and refinement. Instead, she is greeted by Kent's eccentric father, who affronts her with crude jokes; Kent's mother is introduced reclining on a couch, surrounded by yapping dogs. Upon discovering that the evening was a ruse, Myra decides to retaliate. She hires a fake minister, pretends to marry Kent and then deserts him, leaving behind a message explaining that the ceremony was a farce. Kent pursues Myra and persuades her that a real marriage is in order.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

Peter Brent discovers silver in the Cobalt mining district and sends for Jim Symonds, an acquaintance, to assist in developing the vein. Although the mine proves to be worthless, Symonds sells stock to exploit the local citizens. Brent is buried in a cave-in caused by one of Symond's crooked pals, but a neighbor and her father rescue Brent and he arrives in time to force Symonds to return the citizens' money.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

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

Although they have a happy marriage, explorer Sir Charles Chatham and his American wife Lady Marion have been unable to have children. After Charles goes to Egypt, his sister Gertrude and her sweetheart Stephen Hartley, an American consulate attaché, take refuge from a storm in a deserted tower. Frightened, Gertrude yields to Stephen's advances. Although he intends to marry Gertrude, Stephen is suddenly called to deliver supplies to starving women and children in Russia. Marion takes pregnant Gertrude away to have her child, and notifies Stephen, but because he is shot during Bolshevik rioting, he returns too late to marry Gertrude, who dies after giving birth. To honor Gertrude's dying request and provide Charles with a much-desired child, Marion telegraphs Charles that the baby is theirs. However, when he returns, his mother, who wants the estate for her son George, tells Charles that Hartley is the father. To stop Charles from shooting Hartley, Marion confesses the truth, whereupon Charles adopts the baby.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

A victim of hypnotism begins to have compulsions to steal.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

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

Heart-of-Oak, an Indian, shakes the dust of a Western reservation for a college career in the east. Heart-of-Oak is the son of a noted chief, and has taken the preservation of his race deeply at heart. His younger sister, Little Fawn, worships him. At college the Indian quickly becomes a favorite. He wins a place on the varsity crew, and finds a friend in a fellow oarsman Granville Wingham, a young American of wealthy parents. Granville's sister Carolyn also has a high regard for Heart-of-Oak, though the attachment never becomes romantic, Carolyn being betrothed to a young man whom she has known since childhood. Little Fawn wins a scholarship in the Indian school in the West, and surprises her brother by announcing that she is ready to return east with him the second year to share his studies. Carolyn befriends Little Fawn in her strange surroundings. At the sophomore ball, dressed in an Indian costume, she innocently captures Granville's admiration. On their return West for the summer Little Fawn secretly cherishes memories of the handsome white student who has covertly made love to her. Wingham, the elder, owns a ranch near the reservation. His son and daughter visit the property. They see a great deal of Heart-of-Oak and his sister. With deep foreboding the Indian watches Little Fawn and his friend. He talks gravely with the girl, telling her that for the sake of her own people she should not think of marriage outside her ancestral race. The Indian puts his trust in his college friend, whom he believes to be the soul of honor. When the disillusionment comes Heart-of-Oak tracks the runaways into the wilderness. The deep-rooted passion of the redskin for revenge takes possession of this educated Winnebago, who reverts to the type of his savage forebears. Ordering his sister into the hills, he closes in ferocious man-to-man battle with her lover, until the white man, bound and helpless, lies at the mercy of his erstwhile friend. Meanwhile, Carolyn has been summoned by the ruthless Indian. His vengeance is to be complete. But Little Fawn, driven back to the place by anxiety for the man she loves, is in time to sacrifice her own life for the safety of the white woman, his fury quenched by the sight of his sister, dead at his feet, Heart-of-Oak commands his victims to return to their own people, that he may be alone with his next of kin.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

Larry Gilmore must marry by a certain date to inherit a fortune. He is besieged by women anxious to assist in getting the money. To escape them, he gets a job as a police officer and dons a uniform. He falls in love with Mollie Martin, a waitress who does not know his identity but agrees to marry him. Before the ceremony several complications occur, and Larry rounds up a band of jewel thieves. A few seconds before the expiration date he marries and gets the fortune.

Dir: Howard M. Mitchell

Upon her stepfather's death, the custody of Jane Day is willed to his wealthy young nephew, Jim Atherton. When Jim, accompanied by his fiancée, visits his ward, Jane becomes so upset at their intrusion that she runs away to the city with her dog, Buddie. There she is befriended by theatrical producer Allen Hamilton who, upon discovering Jane's natural musical ability, offers to send her to Paris to study. In Paris, Jane again meets Jim and the two fall in love. Meanwhile, Hamilton discovers his love for the waif, and Jane, feeling gratitude towards her mentor, is torn between the two men until Hamilton, realizing that Jane's heart belongs to Jim, withdraws his suit.