Hand-Picked Alternatives Movies That Echo the Spirit of The American Way: Cult Guide

Dir: Frank Reicher

Mrs. Jackson endures the cruelty of her husband, Henry, for the sake of her son, Little Billy. They are visited in their Florida home by Mrs. Lenning, an adventuress who has convinced Henry that his wife is monopolizing Billy's affections. Although Henry intends to leave his wife for Mrs. Lenning, he will not consider a divorce without the custody of his son. While in Florida, Mrs. Jackson meets Richard Darcier, who sympathizes with her plight. Henry accuses his wife of being unfaithful, then sues for divorce and wins custody of Billy. Meanwhile, Jake, an African American voodoo worshiper in Richard's employ, has been warned by a priestess that he must provide their group with a sacrificial victim or die himself. Crazed by the threat, Jake chooses Billy. Mrs. Jackson finds the sacrificial cave and offers her life in exchange for that of her son's. At that moment, Mr. Jackson arrives with a rescue party, saves both their lives, and returns Billy to his mother after witnessing the strength of her mother love. Mrs. Jackson then marries Richard and the reconstituted family begins life anew.

Dir: Frank Reicher

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

To help their unemployed father make ends meet, Edith and her twin sister Grace work as seamstresses . An invalid, Grace falls prey to the temptations of Chinatown opium and becomes an addict, a condition worsened by a misguided physician who prescribes morphine to ease her pain. When their father strikes oil, the family enjoys a new prosperity and the sisters meet the eligible Jack Herron, a fellow oil prospector. To Grace's shock, Jack falls in love with Edith and in her jealousy, Grace tells Jack that Edith, not she, has a drug problem. Hinting that her sister will soon need more morphine, Grace arranges for a dinner in Chinatown with the couple. While her sister and Jack dance, Grace slips away to an opium den. Edith follows her, but ends up in the wrong den and is arrested in an ensuing drug raid. After he bails her out of jail, Edith takes an angry Jack to search for Grace and stumbles across her half-conscious body lying in the street. The truth about the sisters is revealed, and after sending Grace to a sanitarium in the country, Jack and Edith are married.

Dir: Frank Reicher

When a young girl is placed under hypnotism, it's discovered that she has a split personality.

Dir: Frank Reicher

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

Wealthy American widow Elizabeth Carter plans to marry the Earl of Dettminster when lawyer Augustus Tucker informs her of a codicil in her late husband's will. The Carter fortune will go to nephew Pitney Carter, who is in love with Elizabeth, if her second husband is not an American. Elizabeth therefore pays penniless playwright Jasper Mallory $50,000 to marry her and schemes with actress Mme. Albani to provide grounds for divorce so that she may then make the earl her third husband. The plan backfires when Jasper's play is a success and Elizabeth finds herself falling in love with him. Tucker admits to forging the codicil to enhance Pitney's chances with Elizabeth. As Jasper and Elizabeth announce their plans to remain married, a telegram arrives with news that Mme. Albani and the earl have wed.

Dir: Frank Reicher

A Japanese maiden is pursued by an unscrupulous American young man who falsely believes her to have great riches.

Dir: Frank Reicher

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of An American Widow perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Bad woman turns good, but as a recent widow finds her past a roadblock in terms of accepting remarriage.

Dir: Frank Reicher

During the California gold rush, four unsuccessful miners assume that a woman prospector will give in without a fight, so they jump the claim of Kate Kenner and take her gold away from her. Afterward, although she is Sheriff Dan Deering's sweetheart, Kate decides to take the law into her own hands. Donning the trademark black mask of Silver Spurs, the noted bandit, Kate holds up the saloon where the crooks have stored the gold. As she makes her getaway, however, Dan catches her, and after unmasking her, is astonished to discover Silver Spur's true identity. The town puts Kate on trial immediately and a guilty verdict seems assured until the real Silver Spurs, who had greatly admired the masquerade, himself steals the gold and leaves a note exonerating Kate. Then, taking time out from his sheriff's duty, Dan, instead of pursuing Silver Spurs, starts making plans with Kate for their wedding.

Dir: Frank Reicher

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

Patricia O'Brien, known as "Pat" the "Chorus Lady,' is a keen-witted, clean-lived young girl easily holding her own amid the temptations incident to her profession. She is engaged to marry "Danny" Mallory, a young detective, whose great ambition is to own a farm, marry Pat and leave the bright lights forever. Pat has a younger sister, Nora, whose yielding and idealistic natures Pat knows and she keeps her working in a country store "a million miles from Broadway," under the guardianship of a strict old woman. Nora, stage-struck and envious of Pat, leaves the store and turns up at the theater when Pat is rehearsing. Nora announces that she is going on the stage in spite of Pat's protests. Crawford, a young man-about-town, who is backing the show, struck by Nora's beauty and youth, gives her a position in the company. Crawford plies Nora with attention until she falls in love with him and Pat in her efforts to open Nora's eyes as to Crawford's true character, only succeeds in antagonizing her. Realizing that she cannot convince Nora or control her for long Pat begins a flirtation with Crawford. Nora fights bitterly to hold him. Danny becomes jealous and refuses to believe Pat when she explains that she is flirting with Crawford in an effort to disillusion Nora. At the dress rehearsal of the play in which Pat and Nora are to appear the star sends word that she is ill. Pat is given the chance to play the part. Knowing that Pat cannot leave the theater, Nora leaves a note that she is going to Crawford and slips home to pack. Pat, half-dressed to go on, finds the note, gives up her great opportunity, wraps herself in a cloak and in a cab hurries to Crawford's apartment. She arrives at Crawford's apartment first and leads Crawford into a declaration of love just as Nora appears. Pat demands that Crawford choose between them. Crawford chooses Pat. In the meantime Danny has been sent to get divorce evidence for Crawford's wife. They break into Crawford's rooms and Danny finds the woman to be his own girl. In the stormy scene that follows Pat's borrowed cloak slips from her shoulders revealing her in her underwear. With all evidence against her Pat is unable to establish her innocence. Danny cannot believe her innocent, but makes up his mind never to appear against her. Nora and the detective go, leaving Pat alone with Crawford. She promptly tells Crawford what she really thinks of him and he dismisses her from the company and orders her out of his rooms. Danny resigns his job rather than appear against Pat and the divorce suit never comes to court. Pat, out of a job, is unable to find another engagement and is about to be turned out of her boarding house when Nora, convinced of Pat's loyalty, telephones Danny and tells him the truth. Danny gets his farm and they all go to it, taking along as helper, "Bobs," the young assistant stage-manager, who cherishes an honest passion for Nora.

Dir: Frank Reicher

The family of an Irish landlord want him to wed who they think is a visiting heiress from the US but the real heiress pretends she is just a servant and hides her identity.

Dir: Frank Reicher

A slave switches her light-skinned baby with her master's baby. The child grows up raised by whites.