Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of The Adventures of Kathlyn: C...

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

When Roberta Carruthers' father, Capt. Carruthers, is killed in France during the war, she comes to live in the US with her uncle. When she finds out that her uncle is under the impression that his brother had a son and not a daughter, she decides to disguise herself as a male, and calls herself Bob. She becomes a translator for William Faulkner, the governor of the state, and in that capacity exposes a number of German spies. However, Gov. Faulkner manages to meet "Roberta" as a woman, not knowing that she is actually "Bob", his translator--and falls in love with her. Complications ensue.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

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

Concerned that she will ruin the Rev. David Warwick's career by marrying him, actress Letty Noon accompanies her fiancé to the home of Pastor and Mrs. Holbrook to seek advice. In answer to their question, the old parson narrates the story of young Jim Brown, a minister who resolves to reform the rough miners in a small Western town. His strength and dedication deeply impress the townspeople, but his sermons seem to have little effect on "Wild Honey," a dance hall girl who resents his constant admonitions. Wild Honey secretly loves Rev. Brown, however, and after she impulsively kisses him, he forgets his preaching and thinks only of her. One of Wild Honey's jealous suitors frames the reverend for murder, but she clears his name and, later that night, tells the parson of her love. Hearing her declaration, another rejected suitor attempts to shoot Rev. Brown, but Wild Honey shields him and is seriously wounded. The reverend then takes her to another town, where they happily grow old together.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

Bessie, a girl of the slums, is left an orphan. Her father was a drunkard and during one of his periods of intoxication he killed his wife and then, in trying to escape, was himself killed. Left destitute, Bessie is invited by a couple of youngsters to keep house for them. The two boys earn enough money selling papers to keep up the little establishment and Bessie does the housework. One day as she is playing in the street she is run over by an auto belonging to society lady Mrs. Latham, who feels sorry for her and visits her at the hospital where she is taken. On leaving the hospital Bessie goes to see the wealthy widow, who procures her a position at a modiste's shop. A couple of months later Bessie goes to a cheap dance hall with a friend, where she is noticed by theatrical agent Abrams, who offers her a job as a cabaret dancer and she accepts. While dancing in the cabaret she is noticed by wealthy clubman Shirley Martin, who says that he will make her a great dancer. He introduces her to a manager and all arrangements are made for the Broadway production. Shirley expects a price for his favors, but to his chagrin, he discovers that Bessie is incorruptible. Bessie's debut as a dancer is a success. Mrs. Latham, who has designs on Shirley's money, is jealous of the attentions he is paying the little dancer. She plans to so compromise her that his love will be cured. Accordingly, she invites the two of them on a weekend trip to the country and then, at the last minute, does not go herself. When the two young people arrive at the hotel, they find rooms engaged for Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Martin. When Bessie confesses that she loves him, he tries to force his attentions on her, but she repulses him. Then Shirley realizes that he has acted like a cad and when he asks her to marry him the next day, she agrees. Meanwhile, Mrs. Latham has written a note to Old Man Martin saying that Bessie is trying to ruin his son's life and that if he does not want a scandal, he must go at once to the hotel where they are registered as husband and wife. Martin hurries down and finds them there the next day. He accuses Bessie of having designs on Shirley and forbids the marriage. So Bessie, thinking that perhaps after all, the marriage would not be for the best, agrees to go away. When Shirley finds out what his father has done, he is furious, and says that he will not come home until his father consents to the marriage. But he cannot find Bessie, as she has left without giving anyone her address except old Martin. But at the Martin home, the mother has become ill, and the doctor thinks that the only thing that will save her life is a reunion with her boy. So Mr. Martin hunts up Shirley at the club and persuades him to come home for the sake of his mother, and then he goes to find Bessie. Of course the two are reunited and agree to have the long-delayed wedding take place at once.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

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

Two passionate suitors pursue actress Elaine Elton Oscar Billings, the head of several large theaters, and millionaire Jack Dexter, whom she has never met. To force her to spend time with him, Jack pretends to be a chauffeur and gets a job with Elaine, who soon feels quite attracted to him. Then, Oscar combines a marriage proposal with a threat, and tells Elaine that she will never work again if she refuses to become his wife. Elaine gives in and marries Oscar, but then murders him because of his numerous affairs, after which she herself dies while trying to escape from the police. Elaine then wakes up, and after realizing that her marriage and the events that followed it were a bad dream, decides that the nightmare may have foretold the future. As a result, she ignores Oscar's threat to her career, and marries her millionaire chauffeur.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

Justina Howland lives in Mexico near the U.S. border with her uncle Miguel and his son, Luis Alvarez. The uncle plans to have Justina marry Luis in order to get the money which she will inherit. Matters come to a climax when Miguel sends for a priest and announces the marriage will take place at once. Justina escapes on the mule that brought the padre to marry her and crosses the border, where she is given shelter by the soldiers under command of Lieutenant Morton. In the morning she tells her plan to get to her Aunt Betty in Lowell, Mass. The soldiers discover she can dance and get her to dance for them, taking up a collection to take her safely to her aunt. Justina arrives safely and all goes well until Uncle Miguel makes the discovery of Aunt Betty's address on a photograph and comes to Lowell, bringing Luis with him. The two Mexicans arrive at about the same time as Lieutenant Morton's regiment. Betty is delighted to see her rescuer again, and when she learns that he is the local Boy Scout Master, she envies the boy scouts and decides to become one of their number. Miguel hunts up the local sheriff and brings him to Aunt Betty's home to capture the runaway. Miguel asserts that he is the girl's lawful guardian and will force her to marry Luis. One of the scouts has been hurt and brought to Aunt Betty's home, so Justina decides to put on his uniform and gets away through the window, while Aunt Betty holds off the searching party. A long chase follows until Justina finds herself unable to go a step farther and breaks down. The pursuers catch up, and at the same time Lieutenant Morton, warned of Justina's fate, appears. The girl is leaning against a large stone (the state boundary mark) and she unconsciously moves to the other side of it, putting herself across the boundary of New Hampshire. For that reason the uncle is unable to take his ward until he secures a New Hampshire sheriff. While this is being accomplished Morton secures the services of a minister and the little party is turned into a wedding procession, the Boy Scouts forming a lane of honor through which the latest recruit, plucky little Justina, and her new husband, walk.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

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

The inventor of the first clock, which would eliminate the use of the village's sacred bell, is sentenced to life imprisonment by the Emperor, but escapes his fate by hiding with a father and his daughter.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

Henri Le Rocque's arrival to an island village causes much consternation when he insists upon advanced rental for the land he owns. Accompanying Le Rocque is his nephew Paul, recovering from the effects of an unfortunate love affair. One day, little flower girl Fleurette visits the Le Rocque estate to make a present of a rare flower and is shot as a trespasser. She is nursed back to health at the mansion, and Paul falls in love with her. However, her former sweetheart, Jacques, appears and persuades Fleurette to run away. As Fleurette returns to the village, she learns that the villagers are planning to storm the mansion and, realizing that she loves Paul, rushes back to warn him. This endears her to Henri, who urges Fleurette to marry his nephew and bring happiness into their lives.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

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

The story opens in the office of an oil company. The president received a letter from a friend notifying him there is oil in the town of Glory. He forms a dummy railroad company and sends a representative to Glory to get rights to the property by promising that the dummy company will establish a station at Glory. While getting the rights to the property, the oil representative goes through what he supposes a fake marriage with the postmistress of the village. Time passes and the postmistress leaves the village for a neighboring town, where she gives birth to a child. Unable to support the child, she brings the baby to the village hotel run by two Germans, and, under cover of darkness, leaves the baby there. The baby is adopted by the village, named Glory Glory, and brought up by the two Germans. In the meantime the mother has made her way to the city and drops from exhaustion in front of the president of the oil company's house, when she is picked up and carried in. Upon examination by the doctor he finds the fall has caused her to lose her memory. The president is a widower and upon the woman's recovery decides to have her stay as governess and bring up his young son. Several years pass by and both Glory and the president's son are grown up. They accidentally meet and fall in love. The oil company decides to take possession of the property at Glory and then a fight ensues, the son taking sides with the girl he loves and her people. During the lapse of years the man who put through the original deal for the oil company and who married the postmistress has risen to be a judge. The case is brought before him and he dismissed the charges of the citizens of Glory. The son decides to assist and steals the papers relative to the case. The judge and president of the company finally decide to make restitution. The marriage is found to be legal. The people get the oil property back, and Glory is happy with her sweetheart.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

Nora, a girl of the lower East Side of New York City, marries a rising ward politician. A child is born. They are happy, but the young politician is running for office against the old ward boss and has to be out every night. The wife becomes jealous of a certain woman. Nora's child dies. Things get worse for her as jealousy and the seeming neglect of her husband increase. She finally leaves him and becomes a model for a noted painter. The husband finds where she is, but makes no attempt to force her to return to him, though he still loves her. One of the artist's friends, a magnate in the motion picture business, promises her a chance. Her rise to stardom is quick. The climax of the story is a struggle between the old love and the new fame. She does not know that the politician has become a first-class lawyer. Finding that the old love and the new fame are not incompatible, she is reunited with her husband.

Dir: Francis J. Grandon

Young Polish American Sonia, whose deceased parents were famous musicians, exasperates her poverty-stricken guardian, Ivan Jandoroff, with her dreams of becoming a great violinist. When his employer, Andrew Hamilton, threatens to lower the wages at his steel mill, Ivan orders Sonia to work in the mill and then pawns her violin. Infuriated, Sonia soon learns that Andrew has purchased the instrument and visits the millionaire's home to demand its return. Upon hearing her play, Andrew offers to finance Sonia's musical education, but following her successful debut, he suggests that she offer herself to him to cancel the debt. Sonia tearfully smashes the violin and then returns to the factory, where she nurses the sick laborers through an epidemic and prevents a strike that would have ruined Andrew. Realizing his injustices to his workers and the woman he loves, Andrew promises to improve conditions at the mill and later proposes to Sonia.