Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of The Chorus Girl's Romance: Cult Guide

Dir: William C. Dowlan

Clarence Webb, manager of the High Bluff Mineral Springs, has long doped the spring with lithia, sulfur, etc., to attract wealthy patients who imagine that they have aliments. The county health officer is aware of the fact, but as the county is benefited by the larger number of hotel guests, he holds his tongue. He has also another reason for keeping quiet, as he is attracted by Cornelia Wrigley, the aunt of Gladys Saunders, who owns the spring. Cornelia is also aware of the drugging of the spring, but she considers the end justifies the means, as the business provides a nice income for her niece, Gladys, who would have nothing without it. She jollies Dr. Perkins to keep him silent, but she prefers old "Doc" Jenkins, the clerk of the hotel, who also admires Aunt Cornelia. Gladys has lately returned from college and knows nothing of the methods used to obtain business. She knows her father's wishes were for her to marry Clarence, but she has given the matter no thought, as she is sorrowful over her father's death. A retired capitalist, Mr. Harron, and his daughter, Selma, who is in love with her father's physician, Dr. Sherwood, come to the spring hotel and an attachment springs up between Gladys and Dr. Sherwood, much to the chagrin and jealousy of Selma and Clarence. Clarence at once urges Gladys to marry him, but she refuses. He then tells her that she owes everything to him, that the springs are not naturally medicated and that he is the only one who can carry on the business successfully. She is horrified at the deception and still refuses him. He afterwards tells Aunt Cornelia he will tell all the guests she is defrauding the public. Terrified, she tries to persuade Gladys to listen to him. Clarence is then discovered putting ingredients in the water by Dr. Sherwood, who accuses him of defrauding the public. Clarence tells him that Gladys would lose all her property if it wasn't for the deception. Dr. Sherwood disagrees and tells him that the only real cure is diet, exercise and pure spring water; that he could effect cures, without the deception. Gladys, who has entered unobserved, promises to back him up if he will try his plan. Clarence in revenge tells the guests of the deception and they all prepare to leave. Dr. Sherwood, determined to keep them there and give his plan a trial, knows the only way to do so is to quarantine them. He has Clarence, who is about to leave town, locked in an old ice-house and tells the guests Clarence has smallpox and that they are quarantined. He stations guards outside the doors and windows and no one is allowed to leave the house. Many laughable difficulties with his eccentric patients present themselves to Dr. Sherwood, but the final catastrophe occurs when Selma, who is jealous of Dr. Sherwood, learns that Clarence hasn't the smallpox. She bribes one of the guards to send for the health officer and constable and they release Clarence, who at once tells the guests of the false quarantine. The guests have become much benefited by Dr. Sherwood's treatment, and when he asks them if they will stand by him instead of taking sides with the man who would allow them to remain invalids for life, they all rally to support Dr. Sherwood. As the Doctor could prove that Clarence defrauded the public for years, no one is arrested but poor Weary, the tramp, who, without clothes and food, has been locked in the house and has been dodging everyone until finally caught. He tells the constable disgustedly, "You couldn't find anyone else to arrest, so you arrested me." The path of true love appears smooth to Gladys and Dr. Sherwood as the business seems an assured success.

Dir: William C. Dowlan

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

Hermia Challoner, nicknamed the Madcap, has become so satisfied with luxury that she seeks happiness in danger and excitement. Her friend, Countess Olga Tcherny, introduces her to John Markham, a portrait painter. Although he interests Hermia, she is piqued at his treatment of her. Markham later goes to an isolated island to paint. Hermia, who has a country estate on the mainland, goes aeroplaning and purposely lands on the island. She disables the machine in landing, and Markham, who meets her, tells her that no boat will stop at the island for three days. Olga and others arrive. Meanwhile the aeroplane has been fixed and Hermia flies home. Markham afterwards spends a week-end at Hermia's home. Hidden from sight in a high-backed chair, Hermia overhears Markham tell Olga he starts for Normandy on the morrow. Later Olga tells Hermia she thinks she will take a trip to Normandy, and Olga, who has become rather jealous of Hermia, is surprised and displeased when Hermia tells her that she will accompany her. John Markham goes to Normandy, attired in vagabond clothes, and travels as an itinerant "lightning artist." Hermia is speeding to Trouville, where Olga is staying, and meets with an accident to her auto. She meets Markham and learns what he is doing. She longs with her whole heart to leave her world of sham and become a vagabond also. He finally consents to allow her to accompany him. She purchases a costume and determines to earn her living. She is known as Yvonne Deschamps. Markham passes as Philadin, a lightning portrait artist. Markham, now in love with Hermia, proposes to her in the rose garden at Vallecy, but she laughs and conceals her love for him. In the meantime Olga has made inquiries and is suspicious that possibly Hermia and Markham may have met and are together, so she starts an investigation. Markham and Hermia join a small band of performers and go to the Alencon Fete. While Markham is sketching the villagers at the show and Hermia is playing her instruments outside the tent she sees Olga in the distance, tells Markham and disappears. She knows her reputation will be destroyed if Olga sees her. Olga sees Markham and insists on investigating everything. Although Olga causes much suspense, she doesn't discover Hermia, but is still suspicious and gets her chauffeur to act as a spy. Hermia and Markham, tearful of discovery, leave that night and discover the chauffeur following them. Markham sends him about his business. Then they struggle on through the forest until, exhausted, they discover a hunting lodge. No one seems to be around, so they take possession. The next morning Olga is seen by Hermia and Markham coming toward the lodge. Markham tells Hermia to climb the ladder to the attic and escape through the window. Olga enters, and finding Markham, looks around, but can find no trace of Hermia until she notices the mud on the ladder and feels sure that Hermia is in the attic. She then starts to talk to Markham, inventing tales of the days they have spent together and his vows of constancy. He is too astonished to reply at first and as he is about to do so she fires her gun out of the window. Fearing something awful has happened, Hermia raises the trap door and comes down. Olga is now triumphant. Hermia tells her she has brought down the game and to whistle for the dogs. She tells Olga that she loves Markham and that Markham loves her. When Olga has left Markham takes Hermia in his arms. She if furious at him, and tells him she lied to Olga, that she detests him, and that, now their vagabondia is spoiled, they must part. Their next meeting is in New York at the home of Mrs. Hammond, a social leader, who is giving a party. Private theatricals are to be the feature of the evening. As Hermia enters Olga tells her she hopes she will like the play, as she wrote it herself. Later Hermia is horrified to find the play is a story based on her summer's adventures. Olga spreads the gossip and Hermia, seeing herself the object of scandal, is ashamed and broken hearted. Markham is indignant. Mrs. Hammond, hearing the scandal, questions Markham. He tells her the whole truth and how innocent of wrong Hermia is. Mrs. Hammond is furious at Olga's taking advantage of her hospitality and assures Markham that she will see that the story is denied and that Olga is ostracized from her circle of friends. Markham finds Hermia has left her home and spends weeks trying to find her, all to no avail. Finally, one day he receives a package containing nothing but a tiny bell. He recognizes the bell as being like the ones Hermia wore on her vagabond costume. The postmark is Vallecy and he knows it is a silent message from her, and that she is waiting for him in the rose garden. He hurries with all speed to Vallecy and there finds Hermia in the rose garden where he first told her of his love.

Dir: Richard Smith

Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.

Dir: William C. Dowlan

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lunatics in Politics perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Wade Hildreth is sent to New York from London to receive a diamond necklace for Lady Gwendolyn from the jeweler Arabin. A gang of crooks led by Pete Fielding, known as "The Shadow," plans to keep Hildreth from going to Arabin's until they have robbed the store. Actress Morn Light, whom the Shadow loves, agrees to entice Hildreth to her apartment to be imprisoned. When she warns Hildreth because she wants to avenge her father's death, which was caused by the Shadow, the Shadow overhears and captures them both. With large numbers of shoppers in the store, the gang takes the necklace, other valuables, and the customers' possessions. Discredited Detective Tyron follows the gang's getaway boat and arrives with the Marines in time to stop the Shadow, against whom his gang is mutinying, from attacking Morn Light. The gang is captured, the Shadow jumps overboard, and Hildreth returns to England with the necklace and Morn Light, now his bride.

Dir: William C. Dowlan

Pretty Irish lass Pegeen O'Barry lives in a small fishing village on the cost with her kind but alcoholic father and her vicious stepmother Moll. When her father is killed during a drunken brawl, a stunned Pegeen wanders down to the shore in her grief. She is noticed by Sir Arthur Ormsby, an Englishman who just happens to be sailing his yacht up the coast. He takes a liking to her and before long she's moved into his estate. Things are going along swimmingly until Arthur's wastrel brother Guy shows up.

Dir: Maurice Campbell

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

Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.

Dir: William C. Dowlan

Jack Bennett has been leading a gay life; his father has just received a bill from one of the café proprietors for damage committed by his son and others of a party the night before. He summons the young man and proceeds to lecture him soundly, stating that in the college career upon which he is about to start, his allowance is to be $20 per week. Jack's fiancée is Irma Brentwood, the daughter of his father's partner in business. She, however, prefers Bruce Howard, an upperclassman in the college. It is the plan of the fathers that their children shall marry when Jack finishes college. At school Jack and Bruce are bitter rivals and belong to opposing Greek letter fraternities. Jack is stopping at Mrs. Blanding's boarding house. In Mrs. Blanding's employ is little orphan girl Daisy Woods, who conceives a violent admiration and semi-love for Jack. He scarcely notices her, although he is friendly when by chance he meets her. Jack and his frat brothers plan to attend the theater, but find that the opposing fraternity, including Bruce Howard, have taken possession of the theater and that there is nothing left for them. Howard's crowd starts a rough-house, which ends in their being driven from the theater with a fire hose. Jack and his boys, entering by the stage entrance, arrange with the girls to visit the frat house for a little evening, no evil intended. Disgruntled, Howard's crowd learns of what has happened and of how the other fellows have put it over on them, and they plan to inform the dean of the college. Jack's friends learn of this bit of treachery and smuggle the girls out of the house, while, to cast off suspicion, half of the fellows masquerade as girls. Howard, however, is determined to have revenge, so he arranges with one of the girls a scheme to humiliate his rival. He bribes the girl and smuggles her into Jack Bennett's room at the boarding house, being observed, however, by little Daisy Woods. Jack returns and finds the woman in his room. Jack is expelled and his father disinherits him. Jack is brokenhearted, but acting on the advice of little Daisy Woods, resolves to be a man and make good. Jack, with an eye to the welfare of his little friend, writes a note to his father, explaining that Daisy knows the truth and can explain all. Daisy arrives at the home of Jack's father and tells her story to both his father and his fiancée. His fiancée is apparently unaffected, but the father is repentant and offers forgiveness to his son through Daisy. Jack rejects the offer, stating that he has decided to make good unaided. Mr. Bennett, Jack's father, and Mr. Brentwood, Irma's father, are figuring on a large government contract bid. One evening when calling upon Irma, Bruce Howard sees papers upon which the two fathers have been working lying upon the table, and he at once realizes their value. He slips them inside his pocket, being observed by Daisy, who is acting as Irma's maid. She succeeds in securing the papers without his knowledge and, knowing of their great value, plans to give them to Jack. Jack realizes the value of the papers, and securing an advance from his mother, who has always been his friend, he succeeds in underbidding Howard, as well as his father and partner. He is re-established in the eyes of the fathers, by thus saving the contract. The true story of Howard's duplicity comes out. Irma's father again offers her to Jack, who coldly turns his back upon her and places his arm about the little orphan, Daisy.

Dir: Jerome Storm

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

Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.

Dir: William C. Dowlan

After complaining about her dull life, shop girl Sally Manvers falls asleep on the roof of her apartment. Drenched from a downpour, Sally awakens and finds the roof entrance locked. She enters the apartment of society woman Mrs. Standish and encounters Mrs. Standish's brother, Walter Arden Savage, opening the safe. Sally protects Savage from a burglar, and after learning that he and his sister plan to steal their jewels to collect insurance money, she agrees to keep quiet if they take her with them to Newport. Although Savage, Donald Lyttleton, and Trego, a Western millionaire, woo her, Sally, who becomes a secretary to Savage's wealthy aunt Mrs. Gosnold, tires of society life. After a detective arrives, Savage plots to have Sally, whom he thinks will squeal, kidnapped, but Mrs. Gosnold changes clothes with her and is abducted instead. Savage recovers her, and at a masquerade ball the thieves are revealed. Sally returns to New York disgusted, but Trego, who earlier rescued her from Lyttleton, follows. Sally accepts his proposal and suggests that they live on Riverside Drive rather than Fifth Avenue or in Newport.

Dir: Lloyd Ingraham

While walking along the street one day, Arthur P. Hampton, an impoverished young doctor, and his chums, Stub Masters and Johnny Stokes, are persuaded to part with their last remaining funds by tag day solicitor Mary Jane Smith, with whom the doctor promptly falls in love. Doc's friends then hit upon a get-rich-quick scheme. Knowing that his Uncle George has promised a large sum of money upon his nephew's marriage, they persuade Doc to send out fake wedding invitations naming Mary Jane as the blushing bride. Uncle George, elated at the good news, writes to Mary Jane's aunt, Angelica Burns, an old sweetheart, to invite Mary Jane and Angelica to be his guests on an ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Mary Jane pays a visit to the doctor's office and, upon seeing the wedding invitations, becomes so flustered that she trips and sprains her ankle. Doc comes to her rescue and then begs her to pose as his wife. She agrees, but at ship-side, Stub and Johnnie confess all to Uncle George, who flies into a rage until Doc announces that he and Mary Jane have chosen a wedding at sea.