The Recommended Vault Parallel to the Artistry of Tanned Legs: Cult Guide

Dir: Marshall Neilan

Aaron Strong is a seafaring man. Not only has he won an honest living as the captain of a sailing vessel, but he is unusually happy in the love of his young wife, Maybelle. When Aaron Strong embarks on his voyages, Sandy Hodge, his wife's father, an old sea salt of Scottish descent, cares for Maybelle. A terrific storm occurs at sea and Aaron's frail craft is smashed to pieces. He tries to save himself by escaping in a dory, but he finally succumbs after scrawling a note to his wife. Later the little boat is washed ashore with his lifeless body. It is found by some fisherman, and when Maybelle is informed of her husband's death she falls unconscious to the floor knocking a lamp over which burns her hand. Months following when her two children are born, a boy and a girl, each bears a red mark on his hand, similar to the one on their mother's hand which was caused by the falling lamp. Maybelle never recovers from the shock of her husband's death, and she soon dies. The two children are left to the care of old Sandy. Although he secretly loves the little chap who so resembles Sandy's beloved daughter, yet when the boy runs away from home, old Sandy is not at all conscience stricken. The boy falls in with a gang of toughs and has become known as "Red Hand" leader of a gang of crooks. Fourteen years later, Maybelle Strong, Joe's twin sister, teaches a little school in Oceancove. Old Sandy never talks to her of her brother, whom she has almost forgotten, but the old Scotch grandfather insists that Maybelle bring home to him her pay envelope, for Sandy is thrifty. In the city there is a rivalry among the "gun men" and Sid Aldrich, gang leader, gambler and crook, flees the city. He arrives at Oceancove seeking seclusion. There he meets Maybelle Strong, who learns to love the stranger. Aldrich plots to entice Maybelle to the city. Chided by the irate Sandy because she has expended a small amount of her earnings for a new hat, Maybelle promises to go with Aldrich upon his agreement to marry her when they reach the city. "Boss" Kipper, a ward politician, is introduced to Maybelle by Aldrich, who poses as Kipper's nephew. Kipper is immediately attracted to the girl. Summoned hurriedly from the room, through the instrumentality of Fate, Kipper places the now unconscious Maybelle into the keeping of Joe Strong, alias "Red Hand," who is one of "Boss" Kipper's strongest followers. While watching over the girl, "Red Hand" espies the birthmark on her hand; he also glances at the birthmark on his own hand. He has a vague memory of a little sister, marked like himself through a mother's suffering. His better nature comes to the front, and he resolves to save the girl at any cost. "Boss" Kipper returns to the room. He finds the door locked and barred. He orders his henchmen to shatter it. In the meantime Joe Strong runs to the telephone, summons the police and the girl is rescued just in time. The "Boss" vows revenge on Joe Strong. Strong has been endeavoring to live straight since he rescued Maybelle, and his girl friend, Mame of the tenements, in ill health, has received all of Joe's attention. He is informed that the girl must be sent to a sanitarium for treatment if her life would be saved. Kipper plots with Aldrich, the gambler. Joe is tempted to rob a home. He finds there Aldrich confronting Maybelle, whom Joe had so recently saved. Joe takes the life of the unscrupulous gambler, and tells Maybelle to claim that she shot the man in self-defense. Joe escapes the house and joins the girl of the tenements whom he loves, and who is awaiting him at the boat landing. As he buys his transportation, Joe comes face to face with Detective Treem. Joe believes all is lost. The detective, however, believing that the death of Aldrich was for the good of mankind, and appreciating that Joe has been the victim of a frame-up, tells him to "beat it," and Joe Strong and his girl sail away from the city and all its wickedness.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Bottle Imp 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

Three men, disillusioned in love and intent on getting away from all women, rent a cabin and retreat there. But the young woman who owns the cabin, unaware that it has been rented, is on her way there to escape from an unhappy engagement.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Three Men and a Girl perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Two young women - a paraplegic girl sheltered by her wealthy guardians and a more experienced orphan - fall in love with a man separated from his violent wife.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

M'liss, a feisty young girl in a mining camp, falls for Charles Gray, the school teacher. Charles is implicated in a murder of which he is innocent, and the two must fight to save him from a lynching.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

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

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

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

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of M'Liss 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

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.

Dir: Marshall Neilan

An artist in England is torn between an old flame and his now-adult adopted daughter.