Hand-Picked Alternatives for Fans of The Better Wife: Cult Guide

Dir: William P.S. Earle

Quiet, unassuming dreamer Poque wanders over the country propagating various grades of graft so he can spend his first vacation in the great metropolis, New York. During his ramble he encounters millionaire businessman Vancross, who longs for fame (notoriety). After talking with Poque he decides that he is just the right sort to act as publicity man for him. Poque balks at the idea of making such an unpretentious figure famous, but finally accepts his proposition. He arranges with a girlfriend to strike up an acquaintance with his employer, leading him on for a time, then suing him for jilting her. But things pan out quite differently from the way Poque intended. Instead of trying to get away from his employer, the girlfriend decides to marry him. But Poque gets a good sum of money, so he should worry.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

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

At a reception given at the Rogers mansion in his honor, Somerset Carroll surprises the guests by averring that he would give aid to a female convict reported to have escaped. Later, alone in the library, he is appealed to by a young girl who confesses to being pursued by the police, and he takes her to his own house. There she reveals herself to be Helen Rogers, playing a game with him on the advice of her guests. He then declares himself a crook, holding the real Carroll prisoner, with the intention of robbing the Rogers mansion. She follows and shields "The Magnet" from the police, the real Carroll having escaped and notified them, and through her interference he eludes his would-be captors.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

When Keene McComb, a young explorer on an expedition to the North Pole, is given up for lost, his fiancée, Hester Thorpe, is coerced by an ambitious aunt into marrying Martin Ward, a man of reputed wealth. McComb survives, however, and returns to New York a few hours after the marriage. Later, Hester seeks his protection when Ward strikes her because of her refusal to ask McComb for money, and when it appears that Ward has committed suicide she and McComb are married. Ward is still alive, however, but he meets his death on a rocky precipice.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

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

Bradley, who is happily married and loves his family, is called to London on business. There he meets Mercedes, wife of the Spanish Ambassador. The marriage has been forced upon her, and her husband is cruel. Unaware that Bradley is married, she falls in love with him, and he is also infatuated. His better nature finally prevails, and he returns home and is happy until he receives a photograph from Mercedes. On pretext of business, he again goes back to Mercedes, finds there has been a quarrel, and that the ambassador has struck her. She and Bradley go away together, and while crossing the channel, he inadvertently discloses the fact that he is married. Mercedes unwilling to come between husband and wife, flees to a convent, and Bradley, unable to find her, joins an expedition to the forests of South America. Bradley has written his wife that he is a coward. Her health fails and her father takes her and the children for a trip abroad. The children are attacked by an epidemic of fever, and Mercedes, now a nurse, is summoned. She learns the identity of the family, and, when the boy calls for his father, she starts a search for him. After the crisis, Mercedes who has concealed her identity by use of a veil, wins her fight against a renewal of their relations, and warns Bradley, who has recognized her, to keep his wife in ignorance. Recovering from the fever which has now claimed her, she sees the reunited family depart for America, and knows her heart is empty and closed forever to love.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

At a London auction, Princess Sonia bids against her husband, exiled Prince Victor, for a Corot landscape in which incriminating letters Sonia wrote are hidden, but it is bought by Michael Lanyard, who is suspected of being the mysterious, international thief "The Lone Wolf." After Lanyard gives Sonia the letters, she divorces Victor, marries Lanyard, and dies after bearing their daughter Sonia. Years later, Sonia, who thinks she is the daughter of the Princess' maid, is found by Victor, now the leader of an underworld gang of Asian crooks and Bolsheviks. Saying he is her father, Victor brings her to his home, hoping to entice Lanyard to make an appearance. When Sonia discovers the gang's plan to pump poisonous gas into Buckingham Palace and the homes of the wealthy so that Victor would be England's dictator, she tells Roger Karslake, Victor's secretary, whom she loves. Lanyard, who has been posing as Victor's Asian butler, and Karslake, both Scotland Yard agents, capture the gang amid fire and fights.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

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

Roger Kendall is sent to Nashville by the editor of his magazine to sign a contract for two cents a word with a woman writer named Azalea Adair. Once there, Kendall realizes that Azalea is very poor and is also the abused wife of Major Caswell, a drunkard who takes from Azalea every cent she earns. Kendall is able to piece their story together by following the movements of a torn dollar bill, which he gives to Azalea's former slave Caesar and which eventually winds up in Caswell's hands. In order to help Azalea, Kendall convinces his editor to increase her stipend to eight cents a word and also to advance her $30. At his hotel, Kendall meets Virginia Rodney, the semi-invalid daughter of a local judge and a good friend of Azalea. Later, Caesar, seeing Caswell violently take Azalea's advance from her, strangles the major. His part in the crime is covered up by Kendall and Virginia's father, however. Now free, Azalea goes to live with Virginia, who becomes engaged to Kendall.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

To stave off war with a neighboring kingdom, Princess Pat of Paxitania agrees to marry Warburg's King Eric. Still very young and rebellious, the new queen finds it difficult to adjust to court life, and when she accepts an invitation to take a ride with the villainous Count Ladislaus, King Eric's patience gives out and he rebukes her severely. The banished count informs Pat's father, the Grand Duke of Paxitania, that she is cruelly abused, whereupon Pat's three brothers set out to bring her back home. In the end, however, King Eric and Princess Pat come to love each other dearly, and she sends her brothers home reassured of their sister's happiness.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

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

Bill Matthews, foreman for Bethel Steel, works hard to perfect a means for the elimination of waste in steel manufacture. Philip Colt, inheritor of the steel mill, is in love with Daphne Van Steer, whose father is in financial straits. One day, visiting the mill with Philip, Daphne witnesses Bill thrash an insolent workman, and is impressed with his strength though she then snubs him. Bill soon perfects his invention, and coming into great wealth, resolves to become Daphne's social equal by employing socialite May Larrabee to coach him. May schemes to win Bill and his money for herself; however, Bill still wants to marry Daphne and help out her father, a plan to which Daphne finally agrees. Philip's continued pursuit of Daphne ends in a struggle from which Bill rescues her, after which Daphne finally realizes that she has come to really love Bill.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

During World War I, Kervyn Guild, an American citizen who was born in Belgium, is captured with other Belgian refugees by the Germans. Brought before the commanding officer, General Von Reiter, Guild is offered his own freedom as well as that of the other refugees if he goes to London and returns with the officer's daughter, Karen Girard, who actually is his mistress. In the hope of saving lives, Guild consents and is sent to London where he locates Karen. Guild's suspicions are aroused when he notices that they are being protected by the German agents and hunted by the British. His instincts prove correct when he learns that Karen is carrying dispatches to the general. On their journey back, Karen falls in love with Guild and agrees to join the Belgian cause. Before they can escape, the general arrives and demands both Karen and the papers. Guild duels to defend both and fatally wounds the general. In a breach of military ethics, the dying general then gives the lovers his blessings, and grants them a pass to go through the German lines.

Dir: William P.S. Earle

After preaching at a camp revival meeting that charity begins in the home, Littleton minister Hamilton Gregory finds a girl calling herself only Fran on his doorstep and takes her into his home. Fran soon finds that Mrs. Gregory is unhappy because Gregory has no affection for her, preferring instead his secretary Grace Noir. When Fran admits to Gregory that she is his daughter by an abandoned woman, and attempts to have him get rid of Grace, Grace has Bob Clinton make inquiries concerning Fran's past. When the circus comes to town, Fran, in disguise, substitutes for an ill lion tamer, because the circus is her hidden background. Seeing her in danger, Gregory realizes his familial responsibilities and refuses Grace. Fran then marries the superintendent of her school.