Underground Favorites Parallel to the Artistry of Stella Maris: Cult Guide

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Little Sara Crewe is placed in a boarding school by her father when he goes off to war, but he does not understand that the headmistress is a cruel, spiteful woman who makes life miserable for Sara.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

In the Canadian Northwest, Jen Galbraith lives in a tavern with her brother Val and her father Peter, a bootlegger who sells whiskey to the Indians. Val's friend Pierre resolves to win Jen, even though she is in love with Sergeant Tom Gellatly of the Mounted Police. When Val tries to retrieve some liquor sold illegally by the elder Galbraith to an Indian named Grey Cloud, the Indian insults Jen and Val shoots him. Tom is assigned to track down the murderer, but after he arrives at the tavern, Galbraith and Pierre drug him. Jen delivers the papers he is carrying to police headquarters, but when she discovers that they contain orders to arrest her brother, she shoots Tom to prevent him from going after Val. Pierre appears and attacks Jen, and soon after, Val returns, followed closely by a squad of police. Val and Jen force Pierre to confess that he killed Grey Cloud, and Tom tells the police that he shot himself accidentally.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Melanie is captured by a Northern soldier while she is carrying secret Southern messages. She falls into the hands of her father's former superior, who attempts to compromise her. She is saved by a successful Confederate attack.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Those Without Sin perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A young girl living a secluded and unsophisticated life is suddenly thrust into a great wealth and a frightening social whirl.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Wealthy orphan Jean Hilton is in love with Jimmie Dexter, with whose mother she lives. Mrs. Dexter is about to send her son to college when she loses her small income, so Jean induces Mrs. Dexter to accept money from her guardian, Squire Padgate, and Jimmie goes off to school. There he meets young cabaret singer Diana Parish, becomes infatuated with her, and writes her a check for $25. Diana adds another zero to the amount and the check bounces due to insufficient funds. As Diana implores Jimmie to save her, Mrs. Dexter and Jean arrive and inform him that he has been squandering Jean's money. Enraged at being treated like a child, Jimmie vows to make it on his own. After working at hard physical labor, Jimmie returns home and all is forgiven.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

At the outbreak of the First World War, a mother and one of her two daughters are captured and debased at the hands of the Germans. The other daughter goes from America to find them in war torn Belgium.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

After years of mining, Steve Brant finally strikes it rich and plans to use his new fortune to give his wife Helen all of the things that she has had to do without. Helen, however, is already fed up with her lifestyle, so she agrees to run away with the mysterious Craig Wells. Even the elopement cannot change Steve's plans and he sends Helen a package filled with money. The gesture makes her realize how much she loves Steve, and she insists on turning back, but Craig, who is wanted for stealing government funds, refuses. Helen and Craig fight, and during the struggle, she is shot accidentally, after which Craig deserts her. Eventually, Steve finds Helen and nurses her back to health, while the authorities capture Craig and hang him.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

Lopaka, a poor Hawaiian fisherman, falls in love with Kokua, a young girl of royal blood. Her irascible father refuses her hand until Lopaka can bring him two feather cloaks, an impossible stipulation, as no one not of royal blood can touch a cloak under penalty of death. Rollis, a drunken sailor, tries to steal the girl, but is driven away by Lopaka. He then concludes to go to Devil's Mountain and snare the bird from which the feathers for the cloaks are obtained. He goes to the volcano but finds no bird. He encounters an old dying priest of Pele, who agrees to give him a wishing bottle in which Kono, a brother of Pele, is confined. Kono will grant any wish to the bottle's owner, but anyone dying with the bottle in his possession will go to hell and the bottle must be sold for less than paid for it, otherwise it will come back with its menace. Lopaka wishes for wealth and servants and his humble hut turns into a beautiful palace. Kokua and her father join the crowd in front of the palace and the father readily gives her in marriage to Lopaka. Lopaka sells the bottle to his friend, Makale, but angers the Bottle Imp and is stricken with leprosy so that he cannot marry. He finds Makale has sold the bottle and it passes through many hands, but he is unable to secure it again. Each time the bottle is sold for less, being sold for the smallest coin. Rollins gains possession of the bottle and is about to steal Kokua when Lopaka rushes to her aid and the two men fight and fall from a high cliff into the sea, where Lopaka strangles the sailor. With the death of Rollins, the last owner of the bottle, the Imp is freed and goes back to his mountain and the dead volcano gushes forth lava and flames. The gorgeous raiment of Lopaka and Kokua fade into their old rags; the wonderful palace vanishes, but the two are happy together in the fisherman's little hut.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

The manager of the American oil company quits out of fear of El Jaguar, the bandit who is terrorizing the Mexican countryside, Phil Jordan is sent in his place. Phil arrives with his younger sister Nancy, when the bandit makes a unwanted pass towards the girl, Phil beats him, causing El Jaguar to vow revenge. Waiting until Phil's bride Beth arrives, El Jaguar captures all three Americans and sadistically forces Phil to choose between leaving with his sister or his wife. Beth volunteers to remain as a sacrifice, and Phil and Nancy ride off, soon to encounter a troop of rangers. They all rush back to rescue Beth, but before they arrive, the bandit is killed by a woman whom he had abducted and violated on her wedding night.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

With her family in financial difficulties, Rebecca is sent to live with her two strict, unfeeling aunts, who do not appreciate the young girl's charm and energy. Rebecca must make new friends and adjust to surroundings that are sometimes difficult. But she still finds time to think of numerous ways to help others in her new hometown.