Masterpiece Selection that Capture the Essence of The Cigarette Gir...

Dir: William Parke

Bruce Wendell, the son of West Virginia coal mine owner James Wendell, graduates from West Point and prepares to lead a fighting unit to the front during World War I. As his father lies dying, however, he convinces Bruce to remain at home and guard the mine. Bruce's fiancée Ann Blair assumes that he is a coward and breaks off their engagement, but her brother Bobbie remains Bruce's loyal friend. Meyer, a German agent, persuades railroad president Parrish to refuse to transport Wendell's coal, but when Bruce adamantly refuses to close the mine, the spy's men decide to blow it up. While Ann is being abducted by Meyer, Bobbie is buried in an explosion at the mine. Bruce rescues Bobbie and then sends a plea to Lieutenant Parrish to rescue Ann. Meyer and his gang are captured and Ann renews her vow of love to Bruce.

Dir: William Parke

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

Parisian society girl Cleo de Bromsart is bored with her life and accepts an invitation from Prince Selm to join his yachting party. The cruise ends in disaster, and Cleo is stranded on a desert island with two sailors. One drowns in quicksand, and Cleo kills the other when he tries to rape her. Several weeks later, a derelict named Jack Raft is washed ashore and nurses the ailing woman back to health. Jack then effects their rescue by overpowering a gang of Chinese seal poachers. Upon her return to Paris, France, Cleo must choose between her fiancé, whom her parents approve, and Jack, whom she has grown to respect, and decides not to marry either.

Dir: William Parke

An optimistic girl survives city life as a shoeshine until she ends up in Children's Court. Just as she helps her geranium, Sally, to grow, a kindly judge sees her potential and takes her to his mother's country home to flourish.

Dir: William Parke

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

Sculptress Madge Graham sacrifices her art career to nurture violinist Robert Knight whom she marries and with whom she has two children. Gradually Knight becomes infatuated with Mrs. Alden, the wife of a wealthy man. Madge discovers her husband's treachery at the Alden home when she encounters the two embracing. In their surprise, a lamp is overturned and the house catches fire. Knight attempts to stop the blaze, but his hands are badly burned and he is taken to the hospital for treatment. When it becomes apparent that he will require skin grafting to save his hands, Mrs. Alden refuses, but Madge bravely sacrifices her skin, finally forcing Knight to realize the deep love of his wife.

Dir: William Parke

Convict 993 Roslyn Ayre, breaks out of prison, leaving her envious cellmate, Neva Stokes, behind. Roslyn settles into an affluent new life and is wooed by the wealthy Rodney Travers. After Neva is released from prison, she and gang leader Dan Mallory blackmail Roslyn into robbing the guests attending a reception at her home. Roslyn steals the jewels and then makes a deal with Mallory to double-cross the gang and escape together. The gang learns of this, and when they demand their share, Roslyn reveals that she has been a Secret Service agent from the first and turns the gang over to the law.

Dir: William Parke

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

Impressed with Margaret Hill's singing ability, Al Levering takes her from the notorious dive in which she is performing and pays for her musical education. Just as she is about to join an opera company, Levering is arrested for embezzlement and Margaret, out of gratitude, promises to marry him when he is released. Later, Margaret meets and falls in love with nobleman John Ordham. Separated during a shipwreck, the two lose track of each other and five years pass, during which time Margaret has become a famous opera star. Discovering Margaret while attending one of her performances, Ordham breaks his engagement to Mabel Cutting and plans to marry the singer. In the meantime, Levering escapes from prison and arrives at Margaret's house. Anxious to save Ordham from scandal, the singer agrees to go away with Levering. Her sacrifice is averted by Scotland Yard detectives, who shoot Levering, thus freeing Margaret to marry her nobleman.

Dir: William Parke

Monte Bixby's grandfather leaves a will providing each native-born citizen of his small town with $50,000 while giving Monte one dollar. Monte's society fiancée, Mary Reynolds, abandons him, but grandfather Bixby's pretty young secretary, Phyllis Andrews, resolves to help him. Meanwhile life in the town is chaotic as the legatees begin to spend their money. Monte becomes concerned, appoints himself mayor, and restores order. Finally he learns that his inheritance was a trick to teach him the value of money. A real fortune awaits him, and he wins Phyllis.

Dir: William Parke

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Convict 993 perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Roma is being snubbed at school for not knowing her parents. Her guardians make up a story that she is of old English lineage and is truly Lady Partington. When she later wishes to marry a society chap, his uncle becomes suspicious.

Dir: William Parke

Mary's supposed father, Syd, trains her to believe theft is justifiable. Caught robbing a man's house, Mary escapes and Syd is jailed. Mary begins working as a locksmith. When she meets the man again, will he believe she's changed?

Dir: William Parke

The owner of a resort hotel promotes Tom Gwynne, a college boy working as a waiter, to manager. As a result of his mismanagement the hotel loses several thousand dollars. Tom inherits a million and buys the hotel to continue his experimental management, which is to give the employees time and opportunity for self-expression--to do what they like best to do. With the grounds full of acrobats, musicians, and dancers, the hotel goes bankrupt. The old manager returns, buys the hotel, but retains Tom--now that he has learned his lesson--as manager.