Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of The Copperhead: Cult Guide

Dir: Charles Maigne

Wall Street clerk George Coburn leaves the employ of broker Ralph Coombes to become an independent speculator. Although she disapproves, George's wife, Lisa, insists on being his "silent partner" with a fifty percent share of the profits. Lisa avoids spending lavishly and saves her share of the money. Later, Ralph, who is in love with Lisa, conspires with brokers Jim Harker and Charles Nesbit to involve George in a stock deal that will likely ruin his business and his marriage. George loses his fortune and leaves his wife. Ralph conspires with his friend, Gertie Page, to lure Lisa on a voyage to Europe. Soon after boarding the ship, Lisa learns of the plot and disembarks. She reunites with George and assures him that they are not destitute.

Dir: Charles Maigne

The only daughter of wealthy Wall Street banker, Evelyn Murray, while with her aristocratic fiancé, Bert Van Vliet, runs down and injures newsboy Terry McGuire. To avoid an embarrassing outcome, Bert persuades her to flee the scene of the accident. Evelyn is conscience-stricken and informs her father; he is then forced to pay "hush money" to a garage attendant who has witnessed the accident. That evening Murray gives a dinner to honor John Deems, Bishop of New York, to whom he plans to contribute money for a youth foundation. Influenced by the bishop, Evelyn goes to the hospital, becomes acquainted with the injured boy, and arranges for his care. Opposed by her father and fiancé, Evelyn disappears and is reconciled to them only when they agree to adopt a less arrogant attitude toward their money and power.

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

Dir: Charles Maigne

Sylvia Landis promises to marry the wealthy but unprincipled Quarrier because of his social standing. Avarice is the only emotion that Sylvia feels towards her fiance, and when she meets Stephen Siward, a young man afflicted with alcoholism, she falls in love. With the aid of his friend Plank, Stephen fights bravely to cure himself. Plank is enamored of Leila Mortimer, whose husband is trying to blackmail Stephen and extort money from Quarrier. While the two star-crossed couples are dining at a hotel, Quarrier informs Mortimer that Plank is attempting to steal his wife. The two men rush to the hotel where they quarrel, and the drunken Mortimer shoots Quarrier. The dying Quarrier then picks up the revolver and shoots his assailant, thus clearing the path for the marriage of the two sets of lovers.

Dir: Charles Maigne

When Easter Hicks, a Kentucky mountain girl, becomes infatuated with Clayton, a civil engineer from the city, her father Pap Hicks vows to kill Clayton. Sherd Raines, a young mountaineer who loves Easter, prevails upon Pap to reconsider, but Sherd is finally overcome by jealousy and begins to mold a bullet to kill his rival. As he prepares the mold, Sherd hears a preacher's voice denounce him for his evil intentions and he spills the hot metal.

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

Dir: Charles Maigne

Believing her husband, Laurence Teck, (Maurice B. Flynn) to be dead in the African jungle, Carol (Mary Miles Minter) marries musician David Verne (Casson Ferguson). Laurence does come home, but, thinking it best for Carol, he returns to the jungle. The shock kills David, and Carol sets out in search of Laurence, has many adventures, and finally finds him with the friendly native king who saved him.

Dir: Charles Maigne

Rich Matthew Thurlow, spends nearly every night at cabarets, admires Dazie, a leading dancer whom he calls "Redhead." Dazie loves Matthew, but she is dismayed that he wastes his life in clubs. After Matthew, while intoxicated, marries Dazie to win a bet, Dazie insists that they remain married. When Matthew's uncle cuts off his allowance and ends his "soft" bank job, Dazie decides to make a man out of Matthew, but he scorns her. She rents a small apartment, while he gets work in an auto factory. Although Matthew is genial when Dazie's parents visit, he remains cold to her. When Matthew's uncle offers Dazie money for a divorce, she refuses, but says that she will agree to a divorce if Matthew really wants one. Matthew develops a new interest in life and realizes he loves Dazie when he becomes jealous through a misunderstanding. After his uncle, seeing Dazie's effect on Matthew, threatens to disinherit him for good if he does divorce her, Matthew confesses his love.

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

Dir: Charles Maigne

East Side gangster Buck Leslie attempts to stop a fight between chemist Gregory and a tough and is pursued by detective Phil Hoyt to a tenement roof where he takes refuge. On the roof he meets crippled Hilda Shea, who shelters him, and they eventually fall in love, the appeal of her innocence causing him to reform. Buck antagonizes the gang, however, and they try to frame him. Hoyt finds Buck on the roof, and during the ensuing fight the tenement catches on fire. Buck rescues Hilda, and she miraculously regains use of her limbs. The detective abandons his pursuit, leaving the lovers happy.

Dir: Charles Maigne

June Tolliver, whose family has long feuded with the Falins, falls in love with engineer John Hale when he comes to their mountain town. John sends her to the city to be educated with the promise of marriage when she returns. Because John is appointed deputy he tries to remain neutral, but he finds the Falins supporting him when June's Uncle Rufe is accused of murder. June is called to testify during his trial but does not perjure herself for Rufe's sake. To prevent a Tolliver from being hanged, Jud Tolliver has Rufe shot. John is also injured, but June's pleading finally brings an end to the feud.

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

Dir: Charles Maigne

Stenographer Rita Charles is a woman who courts the attention of wealthy men. Rita works for T. J. Olverson during the day, and sees wealthy New Yorker Hugh Chalvey at night. She meets Dr. Varian, a young settlement doctor, who falls in love with her, but Rita does not encourage him because he does not make enough money. She tries to get Hugh to propose, but he does not want to marry her. She befriends T. J. Olverson, Jr., but his father sends Rita away on a month's vacation. Hugh follows her to Atlantic City and proposes. Rita realizes she loves Dr. Varian, however, who also follows her there, and she accepts his offer of marriage.

Dir: Charles Maigne

Sheila Cardross Malcourt shares only a loveless marriage with Louis Malcourt, but is unwilling to divorce him even to marry the man she really loves, for fear of hurting her foster parents. Instead, she stifles her feelings for Garry Hamil and strives to maintain her marriage. But when tragedy ensues, she finds herself faced with a new dilemma.