Essential Cult Cinema Mirroring the Impact of The Concealed Truth: ...

Dir: Ivan Abramson

In order to provide for her widowed mother, Louise Mordyke, Ethel marries Arthur Woodridge, a wealthy philanthropist who is considerably older than she. Although she respects her husband, Ethel resumes an affair with Howard Rosedale, the husband of her cousin Helen. Helen hires a detective, who discovers the lovers at a roadhouse. Rushing from the inn, Ethel is caught in a thunderstorm, after which she contracts pneumonia and dies, repentant but unconfessed. Arthur grieves so deeply that Louise and Helen fear for his sanity, and when Louise learns that he is contemplating suicide, she reveals the truth about Ethel's infidelity. Arthur, incredulous, denounces her. Following Howard's sudden death, however, Helen confirms the story. Louise and Arthur marry, and Helen weds an old friend.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

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

Rhoda Cortlandt, daughter of Theodore Cortlandt, a millionaire who is interested in charity, is beloved by Webster, son of Madeline Stuyvesant, a philanthropist who is Cortlandt's competitor. Burton Woodrow, employed by Cortlandt in order to send his consumptive mother to Colorado, steals $250 from his employer. He is detected and sent to prison for a year. Clarice Lee, a thief, is beloved by Chicago Jim, a gang leader. Mrs. Stuyvesant and Rhoda are visiting a poor family residing in the apartment adjacent to Clarice's. Chicago Jim discovers Clarice in the arms of Pugsy, a member of his gang, and beats her. Her cries reach Rhoda and Mrs. Stuyvesant, who go to her rescue. Jim escapes. Clarice, to work upon the sympathies of Mrs. Stuyvesant, declares that Jim beat her because she would not steal for him. Mrs. Stuyvesant takes Clarice to her home. Cortlandt, believing that Mrs. Stuyvesant has procured a million dollar contract through bribery, calls her a trickster in Webster's presence; he defends his mother. A quarrel ensues. Cortlandt orders Webster from his home. Clarice while in the home becomes infatuated with Webster, who ignores her. Hearing of his love for Rhoda, she persuades Pugsy, her admirer, to lure Rhoda to his room for the purpose of degrading her. Pugsy entices and attempts to assault her there. Rhoda, defending herself, is severely wounded and suffers great loss of blood. At the hospital to which she is taken the doctors declare that only a transfusion of blood will save her life. Webster, hearing of Rhoda's condition, offers his blood. The offer is refused by the stubborn and angry Cortlandt, who orders the doctors to advertise and offer $500 for the necessary blood. Burton, released from prison, unable to secure employment, reads the advertisement and applies at the hospital, where after a rest he is accepted and a quantity of his blood is transfused to Rhoda's veins. Before his discharge from the hospital Burton learns that the recipient of his blood is the daughter of the man who sent him to prison. Cortlandt and the Stuyvesants become reconciled. Burton in the presence of Rhoda offers to return to Cortlandt the money he stole. Rhoda prevents her father from accepting it, and insists that he re-employ Burton. Cortlandt grants Rhoda's wish. Mrs. Stuyvesant gives a reception in celebration of Rhoda's recovery, during which the engagement of Webster and Rhoda is announced. Rhoda is horrified by constantly recurring visions of Burton. Wherever she goes Burton appears before her, whatever she does recalls him to her mind. His vision constantly calls to her. She struggles against the thought, but realizes that with the blood given her by Burton has come love. Unable to restrain the call of his blood she surrenders herself to it and telephones asking him to visit her. He does so, and she confesses her love for him. Burton tells her that he loved her long before he was sent to prison, but that his past is a shadow that will darken her future. Rhoda pleads with Burton and declares that his shadow will fade in the warmth of her love. That evening Webster finds Rhoda in Burton's arms, and is horrified. Rhoda returns the engagement ring to Webster, telling him, "Condemn me if you will, Burton gave me blood, and with it came love." Webster, realizing the power of true love, sacrifices his own love for Rhoda's sake and takes back the returned engagement ring. Cortlandt enters the scene, learns the truth. He is shocked and in great excitement denounces and orders Burton from his house. Webster tells Cortlandt that his stubbornness of not permitting him to give his blood caused it all. He pleads and moves Cortlandt to consent to the marriage of his daughter to the man he sent to prison.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Stockbroker Henry Taylor becomes insanely jealous when wealthy South African jeweler Charles Bryant shows friendly attentions to Taylor's wife Regina and adopted daughter Vivian. Henry banishes Bryant from the Taylor home. In order to lavish riches on his wife, Henry speculates wildly and then uses a client's stocks to raise funds. The client threatens Henry with arrest, but agrees to withdraw the charge if Regina raises the appropriate funds. Bryant comes to her aid, but Henry believes another friend is responsible. When he learns the truth, Henry drives Regina and Vivian from home and they seek shelter from a heavy rainstorm in the asylum in which Regina was reared. Vivian contracts pneumonia and dies. Meanwhile, Henry seeks out Bryant and shoots him. In the ensuing trial, Bryant reveals that he is Regina's father and that he had been compelled to flee to South Africa after being accused of a murder of which he was innocent. Examination of the criminal record reveals that his innocence has been made clear. Bryant brings about a reconciliation between Henry and Regina.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

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

Ada Forbes loves Eugene Cory, but she marries Stapleton, a political boss who promises Ada's father a Senate seat in return for his daughter. After several years of an unhappy marriage, Ada leaves Stapleton and returns to Cory, now married to Alice Wood, to be his mistress. Alice finds out about the affair and confronts Ada, who promises never to see Eugene again. Then, Ada learns that her mother is dying. The double shock of losing Eugene and her mother brings on a breakdown, and Ada is put under a doctor's care. Her round-the-clock nurse falls asleep, however, and a half-insane Ada wanders away, falls into a river and drowns.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Elga Pulaski and her brother Ossip live in Warsaw. They belong to a secret society whose goal is to liberate Poland and Russia from the Romanoffs. Elga is loved by Baron Jan Slozek. But Slozek is a spy who has Ossip and other members of the society arrested. When Slozek is slain, Ossip is the key suspect. He escapes to America with his sister. There, Elga meets Norman Hutchinson, and marries him without telling him her past. When Hutchinson learns the truth, he leaves Elga. Eventually, when Elga appeals to him, he sees the light.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

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

Ignored by a husband who dedicates all his time to improving a universal language, Laurette Maxwell decides to try her youthful ambition of becoming an actress. Wealthy Charles Prescott offers to bankroll Laurette's debut and to clear all obstacles in her road to stardom, and Laurette files for a divorce from Maxwell on the grounds that their daughter Ruth is not his. Discovering the cause for her parents' divorce, Ruth decides to ensnare Prescott. Her mother discovers the affair and denounces Prescott who, in anger, assaults Ruth. Attempting to protect herself, Ruth kills Prescott and is arrested for the crime, but Laurette establishes on the witness stand that her daughter acted in self-defense. After Ruth is acquitted, Laurette confesses that Maxwell really is her father and the family is reunited.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Ruth Ancaster is about to marry her fiance, Edward, when she discovers that he has been cheating on her with a variety of different women. Angered, she marries Henry, Edward's best friend. Edward sees a chance to take his revenge on both of them when Henry, in financial trouble, forges Edward's name on a stock certificate and is caught. He offers to drop the charges against Henry if Ruth agrees to "pay the price"--and he doesn't mean money.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of One Law for Both perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Elderly millionaire widower Wilbur Mason, father of only child Anne, proposes to his stenographer Lillian Hill, who accepts him because he declares that he will devote his fortune to restoring her blind mother's sight. In the presence of struggling playwright Henry Parker, Lillian introduces Mason to her mother as her future husband. Parker, who thinks himself in love with Lillian, imagines that his heart is broken. After the Masons' honeymoon, Mason engaged a renowned specialist whose operation on Mrs. Hill is unsuccessful. Lillian now sadly realizes that her sacrifice was in vain and becomes cold towards Mason. Two years later Lillian and Anne meet Parker, of whose great success they have read. Parker and Anne fall in love; at Anne's suggestion, Lillian invites him to call on them. He does, hoping to see Anne, but finds Lillian alone. She gives him a rose from among those Mason plucked for her that morning because he knew she loved them. Mason, unseen, sees this gesture and concludes that Lillian's love for Parker is the cause of her indifference toward him. His jealous rage becomes ungovernable and he makes his presence known and orders Parker from the house after tearing from the latter's coat the rose Lillian gave him. Mason thereafter repeatedly charges Lillian with being false to him and in love with Parker. Parker meeting Anne, accompanies her to the gateway of her home, where she leaves him. Mason discovering him there alone believes that Parker has clandestinely met Lillian, whom he later upbraids, again thrusting the rose before her. Lillian, as the result of Mason's accusations, becomes grief stricken and ill. Despondent she leaves her husband's home and returns to her mother where she fades like roses in the autumn winds. Mrs. Hill, fearing for her daughter's life, goes to Mason who is moved by her heart-broken and anguished appeal. He accompanies her, repentant and remorseful, to Lillian's bedside which he reaches in time to receive with her expiring breath the pardon for which he pleads and to hear the doctor pronounce her dead. Crazed with sorrow, scarcely hearing the doctor's words, Mason is about to lift the coverlet from Lillian's face when he is stricken with paralysis. Later at his home he weeps in secret at sight of the now-faded rose which to him has become a symbol of Lillian. Repenting his mistake, he bids Anne send for Parker and consents to their marriage. Troubled by his conscience, Mason's overwhelming woe permits him no rest, and he goes at dead of night to Lillian's burial place, carrying with him roses which in life she so dearly loved, which he tenderly places over her dust. "Lillian, my faded flower," he cries, "you died a martyr to my unfounded jealousy. May your soul find peace in the Kingdom of Heaven."

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Laura Henderson, an orphan, is brought up by her aunt, Mary Sherman, who keeps a boarding house. Among the boarders is Angelo Angelini, an Italian violinist. Laura is infatuated with the handsome Angelo, who loves her, and they are engaged to be married. Angelo betrays the girl, and later leaves her, with the explanation that he is to make a western concert tour. A month later, the poor girl receives a letter from Angelo telling her that he has returned to Italy, where he has a wife and child. Later a daughter is born to Laura, who is named Ruth. Unable to obtain employment in her own town, the unfortunate mother abandons her child to the care of her Aunt Mary, and goes to New York. Ill and weak from hunger, the poor young mother is picked up in the street by Reverend Henry Bradley, who takes her to his home. Dr. Bradley and his mother offer Laura a home, and work as secretary to the minister. Later Dr. Bradley falls in love with Laura, and asks her to become his wife. Laura accepts his proposal, and she marries Dr. Bradley, without telling him that she has an illegitimate child, and she secretly sends money to her aunt for the support of her child, Ruth. Nineteen years later, Dr. Bradley is now chaplain of the City Prison of New York. They have a daughter, Aline, who is about to be engaged to Walter Jordon, who comes from one of the finest families in New York. Ruth, now a girl of 20 years, believes that Mary is her mother. One day she happens to find out through a letter that Laura sent to Mary, that she is not Mary's daughter. Ruth forces Mary to tell her who and where her mother is, and at last Mary confesses the truth. Ruth determines to go to New York and seek her mother. Meanwhile Angelo has returned to America and, under the assumed name of Angell, lives in New York with his son, Tony. The boy refuses to work and becomes one of the vilest of all human creatures, a "cadet." Tony pretends to rescue Ruth from an attack by one of his pals, prepared by himself, and the poor girl, believing him to be a decent man, accompanies him to a restaurant. Then Tony takes Ruth to his own room, telling her it is the home of his "highly respectable aunt." A letter sent by Tony to an accomplice, offering to sell the girl to him for white slavery in New Orleans, is seen by Ruth, who realizes her perilous position. She tries to escape from the room. Tony threatens her with a pistol, and in the struggle which follows Tony is shot dead. Angelo enters the room just as his son has been shot. The poor girl is arrested and taken to prison, where she meets Chaplain Bradley and tells him her sad story. Unaware that it is his own wife's daughter, he is helping, the chaplain takes Mrs. Sherman to visit Ruth in prison. Mrs. Sherman is confronted with a terrible situation. Laura's legitimate child, Aline, is celebrating her engagement to Walter Jordon in the magnificent home of the latter's parents. Mrs. Sherman decides it is her duty to the unfortunate Ruth to acquaint her mother with the terrible facts. Laura while celebrating the betrothal of her younger daughter, learns that the child of her first love languishes in prison charged with murder. The unfortunate mother becomes temporarily deranged. Aline, the younger daughter, on learning of her mother's disgrace, is heartbroken, breaks off the engagement with Walter, and later her dead body is found by her father and lover, the second victim of the Sins of the Parents. At the trial of Ruth for the killing of Tony, Angelo appears as a witness. The father is about to speak the words that will condemn his own daughter to the electric chair for the killing of his son, when a commotion in the rear of the court room causes him to be silent. Laura, the mother of the prisoner, has escaped from her nurse and has forced her way into the court room. She recognizes Angelo, the man who betrayed her 22 years ago. and who is now about to condemn his own daughter. Angelo now learns, for the first time, that his own daughter killed his son; he suffers keenly, refuses to speak. The half-demented mother is led out of the court room by her husband and court officers in a hysterical condition. The jury brings in a verdict of acquittal on the ground of self-defense. Ruth is free, but alone in a great city. Dr. Bradley takes Ruth into his home to her mother. Laura, realizing the noble stand of the minister, and feeling that she is unworthy of her husband she has deceived, decides to leave the house with her daughter, Ruth, in hope that the disgrace she brought upon her husband will be forgotten, but Bradley resigns as minister and insists upon Laura staying where he will stay. He folds both mother and daughter in his arms, gives them his blessing, thanks the Lord that to him it has been given the honor to help two suffering souls into the light. Angelo, suffering as the result of his youthful sins, decides to commit suicide, but has not the courage to do so. Bradley receives a reply from the board of directors of his congregation, stating that they have looked into the misfortune that has befallen upon his family and they congratulate him for his noble act, and ask him to remain with them as their minister. Bradley shows the letter to his wife. Laura, heartbroken, falls on her knees and begs forgiveness of her husband.