Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of Susan's Gentleman: Cult Guide

Dir: Edwin Stevens

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

Mary Blake falls in love with Kirk Hardy after she arrives in his town with a theatrical troupe. She tries to tell him that, a short time before, she had been tricked into marrying another man, but he refuses to listen. Then, after she and Kirk have married, the other man locates Mary, and tries to ruin her life.

Dir: Edwin Stevens

Channing her name affectionately shortened to "Jack," is the daughter of King Channing. Jack's mother died when the girl was born. King Channing desired a son when Jack arrived, he accordingly raised his daughter as a boy. At 16 she still continued to be dressed in boy's clothes. One day she met Bob Ridgeway, son of Channing's aristocratic neighbors. Shortly after King Channing died. His will bequeathed his fortune to Jack, to be held in trust, with her two maiden aunts as guardians of the girl, until she shall become of legal age or shall marry. Life with Jack's maiden aunts is almost unbearable. They decide that she be sent to boarding school, and for a time, in her new surroundings (being now properly dressed in girl's clothes), Jack is contented. But the restraint finally palls upon her and she runs away from school. She finds board and lodging with a woman who has, as another paying guest, a girl who has just left a position in the office of Ridgeway and Son. Jack is advised to apply for the position. This she does and is given employment. The affairs of Ridgeway and Son have been going from bad to worse. They are nearly at the point of disaster, when matters take an unexpected turn. There is a valuable piece of mining property they can secure at a great bargain. Bob goes west, and secures from the owner of the property his promise to sell at a definite figure, but Bob cannot secure an option. The secrets of Ridgeway and Son have been "leaking" through the conduct of the chief clerk, who sells to a rival firm the information he cunningly contrives to secure. That Ridgeway and Son want to buy the copper property becomes known to their business rivals. The Ridgeways are lacking in funds. Jack has a plan, and proposes it to Bob. They shall marry and draw enough of Jack's fortune to pay for the property. The proposal is so daring that it fairly takes Bob's breath, but he has loved the girl from the day he met her in the woods, and she has likewise loved him. Bob and Jack marry, but when it comes to going west with the money to close the deal the elder Ridgeway is so ill that Bob cannot leave him. So Jack makes the trip, beats the Ridgeways' rivals to the property and secures the deed. When Jack returns home the elder Ridgeway is restored to health, largely a result of Jack's cleverness in saving the firm from bankruptcy. The closing scene shows Jack moving in social life.