Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of The Checkmate: Cult Guide

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

To remove forever anything that will remind him of his dream of happiness that was shattered by his wife's infidelity, Stanley sends his infant daughter Nan to be cared for by a woman named Hopkins. He sends money regularly for her support but never visits her. Nan is treated as a slave and never receives any of the money intended for her. Her first real happiness comes in the sincere love of young reporter Hal. Fearing to lose her to him, Mrs. Hopkins tells her she has mulatto blood in her veins. Crushed by the lie, Nan flees from the only home she has ever known. Ignorant of the world, she is carried unknowingly by the tide of events into what is termed a matrimonial agency but is actually something far worse. Nan ends up placed at auction and her own father bids for her against other millionaires. As he outbids them all, Hal, who has traced her, enters, just in time to reveal to the father that Nan is his own daughter.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of No Children Wanted perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Little Dot Jarvis is tolerated, but not loved, by her ambitious parents, who send her to boarding school so they can move into a fashionable apartment building that does not allow children. At school, Dot is treated so cruelly that she runs away, but a kind farmer takes her to the police station and she is returned to her parents. When Dot's father becomes involved in a scheme to smuggle arms into Mexico, Dot's photograph prevents newspaper owner Robert Chase from exposing him. Repentant, Dot's parents finally give her the love she had so sorely missed.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

The Red Circle is a birthmark, on the hand of the heroine, noticeable only in times of stress and excitement, which forces her to steal, leading to no end of complications and intrigue.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

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

Little Sallie O'Brien, who sells newspapers on the city streets, is adopted by Bridget Cassidy, the landlady, when her mother dies. Mrs. Cassidy treats the child cruelly, but soon the wealthy James Wilson befriends Sallie and takes her into his home. Sallie is befriended by Wilson's son Richard, but his daughter Marjorie dislikes the impish little girl. Although Frederick Mason is in love with Marjorie, she refuses to marry him because she finds him too lacking in boldness and chivalry to suit her romantic temperament. Having overheard Frederick's proposal, Sallie induces Bridget's son Patrick to visit the house in the guise of "the Duke of Galway." Marjorie becomes infatuated with the "duke" and promises to marry him, but Mrs. Cassidy appears and exposes her prodigal son. Richard saves Sallie from a whipping, while Marjorie finally accepts Frederick.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

Jane Dwight possesses an overactive imagination and spins romantic tales in which she is the heroine. When oil is discovered on her father's farm, young millionaire James Thornton comes to purchase the land, is attracted to the tomboyish Jane, and offers to send the girl to boarding school. A year later, Jane returns home from school posing as a grand dame, hoping to please Thornton. But Jane's airs have the reverse effect because Thornton is disappointed in the change that has come over the tomboy he once knew. Consequently, Jane dons her calico dress and hides in Thornton's car. Upon discovering his tomboy once again, Thornton orders his chauffeur to drive to the nearest justice of the peace.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Miss Mischief Maker perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Rich young playboy Gregory Kirkland reads a newspaper story about a daring robbery, and bets his friends that he can steal a famous diamond tiara, The Sultana, from its designer and then secretly return it without being caught. Robert Sautrelle, who designed the tiara, visits Kirkland's home, and Gregory does indeed steal it. However, he gets cold feet before he returns it and convinces a woman he knows, Virginia Lowndes, to return it. Unfortunately, things don't work out exactly as Gregory had planned.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

A rich man's son is forced to find a job, and he finds one at a night club after getting his predecessor sacked. He makes mistakes and causes accidents. When a valuable garter is lost by the star of the floor show, he scams customers with some fakes, leading to a chase that spills out onto the streets.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

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

Joyce Tolliver, whose nickname is Muggsy, plays baseball, fights and swears with boys, and is severely punished by her elders. When she grows up, she is disguised as a boy, and sent to live with a wealthy old uncle, Leslie Bolton, who hates women. Her ruse works perfectly until she falls in love. When Bolton e discovers that his supposed nephew is really his niece, he orders her out, but after he realizes that he cannot get along without her, he sends for her to return.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

On his deathbed Steele Weir's father tells his son of a band of criminals who framed him for murder and robbed him of valuable land in the West. Under contract to build a dam, Steele goes to the headquarters of the gang; and becoming aware of his identity, they plot against him with the services of lawyer Martinez. He, however, proves to be Steele's friend and obtains evidence against the gang. When Ed Sorenson, the leader's son, steals the evidence, Steele's sweetheart, Janet, outwits the enemies, and after many adventures the bandits are convicted and Steele wins the girl.

Dir: Sherwood MacDonald

The wife of Peter Conway died in giving birth to a baby girl. Babbie, the motherless child, grew up to be beautiful and vivacious, her liveliness and innocent pranks were the joy and despair of her rough-handed but tender-hearted father, while Hannah, her elder sister, mothered and idolized the impulsive girl. But Babbie became the wife of a drunken wretch. Her husband died and back she fled to her father's arms. Hannah learned to love Ned Higgins, a newcomer, who at first did not like Babbie, but later found himself captivated by her artless charms, but the gathering clouds of an impending strike brought Asa Robins, a reporter, to the coal fields. After saving Asa from a beating at the hands of the strikers, Babbie refused his offer of marriage and the newspaperman was compelled to flee the town. Ned's jealousy was aroused by this incident and he unwillingly realized that he loved Babbie. With faltering voice he told Hannah the truth. She was crushed by the blow, but calmly replied, "Then you shall marry Babbie." Babbie appreciating the sterling worth of Ned, loved him deeply, but for her sister's sake rebuffed his advances and admonished him to remain true to Hannah. At last the strike was declared and the company imported trainloads of heavily armed guards to protect the mine property. Egged on by Dominick Kenelly, a drunken miner, the strikers prepared to attack the newcomers, but Babbie foreseeing its fatal consequences, summoned the priest, who averted the clash and rebuked the intoxicated leader. Enraged because Babbie foiled his plan, Kenelly attacked her in a lonely glen, and if it had not been for the timely interference of Ned, the girl would have been severely beaten. Ned again uttered his pleas, but Babbie remained unmoved. While crossing a railroad trestle, they were overtaken by an onrushing train. Seizing Babbie, he leaped and was rendered unconscious while Babbie was unhurt. She looked into his face and murmured, "Oh, my love, say that you are not dead." Ned opened his eyes. "Babbie, I love you. I can't live without you. Give me your promise." She impulsively threw her arms about his neck in an ecstasy of joy, when suddenly her sister's face flashed across her mind. "God of Mercy," she cried in anguish, "Everything I touch withers and is snatched from me. I am ill-starred; take away the curse." Convulsed with tears she fled, and prepared to leave home to forget her unfortunate love, when she heard that her father had been captured by the authorities and was to be court-martialed and executed. Stealing through the lines she rescued her father, and mounted on a horse they fled under a hail of bullets from the guards. Babbie was hit and fell from weakness from the horse, and for the first time her father learned of her wound. Ned and Hannah soon discovered the two at the roadside. Babbie fast nearing death, smiled at them, and taking the weeping Hannah's hand, placed it in Ned's. "I am going," she said almost inaudibly, "my star is sinking, and soon all will be over, but for my sake. Ned, love and cherish Hannah, as I have loved and cherished you." Babbie's lips ceased to move, and the little group bowed their heads and wept.