The Definitive Guide Inspired by the Vision of Sure-Fire Flint: Cul...

Dir: Dell Henderson

Stubborn Emily Delmar sneaks out of the house to go to a nightclub, and when she discovers that she has left her house keys at home, decides to spend the evening at the apartment of Richard Trotter, a young man who is pursuing her. Trotter comes home to find her there, and proceeds to take her to the house of her Aunt Geraldine. On the way there they stop at a beachfront hotel for dinner, and Emily, not ready to go to her aunt's house just yet, hatches a scheme to stay overnight and have a swim. Unfortunately, her Aunt Geraldine and Herbert Threadgold, a rival for Emily's affections, arrive at the hotel, see Richard and Emily there and assume "the worst". Complications ensue.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Nell Gordon is unfortunate in her ancestry; her father is a crook, but she possesses qualities of resourcefulness and loyalty. Though she loves her father, she detests his associates, particularly one, Bill Whipple, who is her constant suitor, Joe Dunham, who does the scouting for the trio, finds a likely bank in the town of Wheaton, the fact that a new bookkeeper is needed there opening a way for the gang to get into the bank, as Nell is an expert. Working on her love for her father, who is a very sick man, Whipple and Dunham persuade Nell to go to Wheaton and take the position. Boarding with the Rev. Dr. Singleton, Nell wins the confidence of Jim Brooks, the cashier of the bank, and of Tom Hoadley, his best friend and sheriff of the county. What the girl is working for, of course, is the combination of the safe, but before she has a chance to get it, she begins to realize that she is in love with the cashier. On the very day that she learns the combination and copies it. Jim proposes to her, and, after a mental struggle, she decides that her love for him is greater than her loyalty to the gang, and she surrenders, concealing her identity, she had come to the town under an assumed name. Becoming suspicious of Nell's delay in forwarding word to them, Whipple and Dunham attempt to force her father to write a note ordering her to act quickly, but the old man refuses and is shot. The crooks go to Wheaton and try to force Nell to rob the bank. She has undergone complete reformation and has even confessed her identity to Jim's friend and is planning to leave Wheaton rather than bring disgrace upon the man she loves. She discovers that her father has been murdered by the crooks and decides to be revenged. Apparently consenting to their demands, she gets them into the bank, but not until she has warned the sheriff. Nell is wounded in the fight which follows, and when she awakens finds herself in the arms of the man from whom she attempted to escape because she loved him.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Press agent J. Butterfield Conroy, known affectionately as "Butts," is left only $500 when his wealthy father dies--until he can show that he has been "of service to humanity" in a scientific capacity. In a New York restaurant, Butts meets Mary Bruce MacDowell when her uncle Angus, an entomologist, chases a butterfly around his table. Smitten with love, Butts follows Mary to Bug Hollow, a resort where the professor is searching for a rare insect. After losing all his money playing poker, Butts starts to walk to Manhattan, when he meets Frank Morrison, an acquaintance, who hires Butts to invent a reputation for him as a scientist so that the professor will allow him to court Mary. Although Butts is successful, Mary, loving Butts, refuses Morrison. After Butts rescues the professor from his burning laboratory, set on fire by Brazilian swindler Ybor Cavallo, the professor consents to Butts' and Mary's marriage and Butts is awarded the rest of his father's estate.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Helene De Travillac, a sweat little French girl, loves her handsome cousin, Andre D'Eguzon, but a scheming aunt has engaged her to Valentin LeBarroyer, a methodical, statistic-loving "stick," but wealthy. On the wedding morning Andre suddenly appears on the scene and pleads with Helene. She hesitates, a little, tears off her veil and flees with her lover to her old home in the country. There her grandmother makes the natural mistake of thinking Andre is the husband. The resulting complications are amusing. Finally arrives the discarded Valentin, hunting for his bride. When he dins her he proves himself a man, and "The Beautiful Adventure" ends happily for the lovers.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Among the younger members of the select families of the "Avenue," are Pete Milholland, a "good fellow" and sportsman, and his fiancée, Alice Gardner. Only once have they quarreled, that was when Pete disgraced himself by coming upon the polo fields intoxicated. This was good cause, and we now find Peter staring blankly ahead of him with the returned ring in his hand. Still in a stupor from drink, Pete instructs his butler that he is leaving for Europe and staggers out of the house. He finds himself on the shores at Coney Island, in a garb not his own. During his wanderings in the amusement park, Pete comes before the entrance of the "Turkish Dream." Partially attracted by the pretty dancer and chiefly in need of sleep, he smuggles himself into the place. He has come at the psychological moment, for the proprietor, Mooney, and his daughter, Tessie, the dancer, are in a quandary. Their orchestra, the pianist, has left them. Pete steps into the breach, much to the jealousy of Jan, the boatman, Tessie's ardent lover. As time passes Pete decides to return home, taking with him Tessie and her father. The jovial Irishman and his daughter dislike the idea of leaving their "kind," but with the arrival of the automobile they agree to go. Tessie is taken care of by Pete's aunt, who would rather do most anything than come in contact with the belle of Coney Island. Her arrival causes consternation in society circles and it is realized by Pete that she is not suitable for him, but he is determined to marry her, as Alice, according to the papers, is going to become the wife of his friend, Tony Graves. During her stay at the Milholland mansion Tessie notices how Pete controls his feelings when Alice approaches, and how Alice's heart nearly breaks when the two girls meet. Alice and Pete finally come face to face, and Pete learns that the newspaper report of Alice's marriage to Tony was false. He takes her in his arms, and thus they are discovered by Tessie. Summoning all her strength and forcing a smile upon her face, Tessie tells them that she lied and does not love Pete at all, and returns her ring. Pete is overcome to think that he was on the verge of falling into the trap set by this young "vampire," while Alice is overjoyed at the unexpected turn of events, though secretly feeling that Tessie is making a great sacrifice. After Tessie's return to her kingdom on the beach, "The Turkish Dream," true love steals its way into her heart as it had done to Alice and Pete, and soon Jan proves to be her ideal of a husband.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Pampered Frederic "Freddy" Pritchard, warned by his father that he must work or be disinherited, learns how to crack safes to help his girlfriend Gloria Nevins, whose villainous uncle holds security for the family jewels, as well as the right to vote on the disposition of the Nevins Motor Works. After Freddy steals the papers with the aid of his valet Smithson, Gloria's uncle locks him in a warehouse to prevent him from attending a crucial stockholders' meeting. Freddy escapes and saves the factory for Mrs. Nevins, who gives him power of proxy. Pritchard, Sr., pleased with his son, consents to Freddy's marriage to Gloria.

Dir: Dell Henderson

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Eva, wo bist du? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

After Miriam Gibson is seduced and abandoned by a handsome adventurer, who marries an old woman with money, she becomes a prostitute to get money for her new-born child. When the baby dies, Miriam, now without hopes, goes to London and becomes the mistress and housekeeper of barrister Geoffrey Sherwood, who has become a drunkard after having been jilted by his fiancée Valentine, when she married a wealthy baronet. Miriam hopes to marry Geoffrey, but when Valentine, who is unhappy with her baronet, begins to trifle with Geoffrey, he responds and discards Miriam. Geoffrey soon realizes the shallowness of his affair with Valentine, who has not divorced the baronet, and his sense of shame is awakened by Miriam's kindness and consideration for others. They marry in a little Scottish kirk, and sail for Buenos Aires to begin a new life.

Dir: Dell Henderson

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Alice Avery, the orphaned daughter of an actress, is raised to adulthood in a small town by her strict Aunt Jane and Uncle Ezra. When artist Richard Danforth comes to town to rest, Alice falls in love with him. When he leaves, he promises that if Alice comes to New York he will care for her, so Alice decides to follow him there over the objections of her aunt and uncle, who want her to marry a local boy. In New York, Richard is surprised by her appearance and sends for Sarah, Alice's childhood guardian, to look after her. Nancy Arnold, one of Richard's models, is in love with him and jealous of Alice, and Alice is jealous of her. When Alice interrupts a quarrel between Richard and Nancy over her, she decides to run away and get a job on the stage. She becomes a famous actress and eventually is found by Richard, who realizes that he is in love with her. She then gives up the stage to become his wife.