Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of The Dark Silence:...

Dir: Albert Capellani

Paul Capellani, the famous star, plays the part of "Karloo." which gives him a chance to show his remarkable ability. This is a picturization of the play "Patrie," written by Victorien Sardou, the famous French dramatist. The author was noted for being a master of stage effect, and the film follows closely the stage production. "Pro Patria" deals with the efforts of the people of the Netherlands to throw off the iron rule of Spain, and the plots and intrigues which were perpetrated at that time. It was staged in Louvain, Belgium, that beautiful city which has since been ruined beyond redemption by German shells. The costuming, arms, customs and properties are absolutely accurate, and the whole production is most lavish. The acting is truly great and the entire six reels grip from start to finish.

Dir: Albert Capellani

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

When young schoolteacher Mary Adams is out of the classroom, she dreams of the days when the world was peopled by knights and beautiful ladies in distress. She is so imbued with the spirit of romance that when a strange young man rescues her from a street ruffian, she idolizes her hero, picturing him as a regular Sir Galahad. Mary's rescuer is Jim Anthony, a mechanic with inventive talents. Embittered after his invention is stolen, he becomes a burglar. Knowing nothing of this, Mary falls in love with him and marries him. He's a product of the slums, and in his wandering he has lost track of his mother. When he finally learns that she's living in the Carolina mountains, he persuades Mary to go with him to visit her. He takes with him a bag of jewelry, the plunder gained in his recent robberies. They find Anthony's mother living alone in a hut. The old woman has become a wretched creature. She fails to recognize her son, who asks for a night's shelter for himself and his wife. While unpacking, Mary discovers the jewelry and confronts Jim, who confesses his crime. Horrified, Mary orders Jim from the room, locks herself in, and goes to sleep on a couch in the main room. The old woman finds the jewels and her cupidity leads her to try to kill the man she doesn't know as her son. Mary finds Jim unconscious from his wound and hurries to the village for medical aid. She keeps away from him, and on his recovery he returns to the city and makes restitution of the stolen property. A reconciliation is brought about several years later.

Dir: Albert Capellani

During the latter part of the reign of Louis XVIII, in France, Ambrose, an aristocrat, loves Jeanne Mailloche, a peasant girl, but is compelled to marry his cousin, Alice de Fontelles, to preserve their respective estates. Jeanne dies soon after, leaving a son, who is kidnapped and raised by a band of ruffians. Alice's son, receiving every advantage, is raised as an aristocrat. Twenty years later, at the time Napoleon was in exile, the young aristocrat, Victor by name, becomes a captain in the King's army. His half-brother, Rabat, son of Jeanne, has degenerated into a criminal, with a price on his head. Strangely enough, they look exactly alike, though neither knows of the whereabouts of the other. In fact, Rabat is ignorant of Victor's existence. The young Captain is told of Rabat's existence by his father when the latter is on his death bed. Victor is engaged to Lucille, the niece of Munier, who is Victor's father's secretary. Munier becomes associated with the conspirators, who are seeking to place Napoleon on the throne of France. In Munier's endeavor to steal the funds of the conspirators, he becomes associated with Rabat, the criminal. Victor is called to the army, and arranges with Lucile for their final adieu at the diligence office. Being unaware of the existence of Rabat. Lucile believes her lover guilty of the murder which she sees Rabat commit at the meeting place appointed by Victor. Rabat's face in the moonlight almost causes Lucile to abandon all faith in Victor. Victor is arrested for the murder, but before his execution, Lucile learns the truth concerning Rabat and forces her uncle, who has acknowledged his connection with the murder committed by Rabat, to intercede. This stays Victor's execution as a murderer, but as Napoleon has returned to power. Victor is arrested as a political prisoner, and ordered to be shot. Victor's release as the murderer has caused the arrest of Rabat for that offense. He is to be beheaded. Both Rabat and Victor's executions are scheduled for the same day. Lucile, knowing of her uncle's part in the actual murder, forces him to intercede with Napoleon, thus saving the life of Victor. Later, Victor meets Rabat, his half-brother, for the first time, and inspires him with the necessary confidence to face his death. Munier escapes from the country and with Napoleon's pardon for his political offenses, Victor and Lucile are happily married.

Dir: Albert Capellani

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

Lily Bart loves Lawrence Selden, a lawyer of moderate means, but she is also pursued by Simon Rosedale, a wealthy businessman, and Augustus Trenor-Dorset, a married man. When Dorset's wife Bertha announces that she is going to the country (although she really plans to meet Ned Silverton, with whom she is having an affair), Dorset asks Lily to dine at his home. Alone with him at the house, she rejects his advances, but when Mrs. Dorset returns, she publicly insults Lily, forcing her to move to another town. Lily's aunt dies and leaves her penniless, whereupon she reluctantly begins to seek employment. She is about to kill herself when Selden, who has never stopped loving her, enters the room and convinces her to marry him.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Jean Valjean, a good man convicted of a minor crime, escapes from imprisonment and spends the rest of his life running from the vindictive and implacable man of the law, Javert.

Dir: Albert Capellani

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

The scene takes place in Paris in March 1793 during the Reign of Terror. The Knight of Maison-Rouge, posing as Citizen Morand, is organizing the escape of Queen Marie-Antoinette. He is assisted in his undertaking by Dixmer, a master tanner who passes himself off as an ardent revolutionary and his wife Geneviève, who also happens to be the Knight's sister. While on mission with her brother, she is saved from arrest thanks to the intervention of Lieutenant Maurice Lindey. Geneviève, who is married without love to Dixmer, falls for the young man, who requites her love. A tunnel is dug between a house rented by Dixmer and the Tower of the Temple but the various attempts to rescue the queen attempts fail. Marie-Antoinette risks the guillotine. Lindey finds himself involved in the plot.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Marguerite Gautier, known as "Camille" on account of her fondness for camellias, is queen of the underworld. She has a wealthy lover in Count de Varville, whom, though he supplies her with plenty of money, she does not love in return. Her affections are set upon Armand, a young lawyer from the country. She suffers from her excesses, and the doctor warns her that she must change her mode of living, but she laughs at his advice. Armand's love for her renews her interest in life, and she goes with him and lives quietly in the country. But their happiness is short. Camille has had to sell her jewelry and horses in order to pay her debts, and, learning of this, Armand becomes suspicious. Armand's father, hearing of his son's attachment for Camille, demands that the woman should abandon Armand. For the sake of Armand's young sister, Cecile, Camille agrees to sacrifice herself and returns to her former life with Count de Varville. But Armand's love for Camille will not be suppressed. They meet again. He begs Camille to go away with him. She refuses. Armand accuses her of loving de Varville. The two men meet and quarrel. There is a duel, and Armand wounds de Varville. Armand learns that Camille always loved him and that her aim was to please the father by preserving Armand's family's good name. In the end Camille dies with a smile on her lips and expressing her love for Armand.

Dir: Albert Capellani

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Les Misérables, Part 1: Jean Valjean perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Jean Valjean, guilty of a minor theft of food, is pursued and hounded for years by a relentless lawman, Javert.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Based on Robert W. Chambers' novel about New York CIty life among the upper crust: Artist/model and philosopher Valerie West undergoes much sorrow and joy,many trials and tribulations ,and final triumph on her journey to become the living personification of sweet, noble womanhood.

Dir: Albert Capellani

The Archduke Rodolphe d'Illyrie is secretly united to Countess Sarah Mac Gregor and they have a daughter together. The young woman learns that her father-in-law is potting to have the marriage annulled so she writes her brother to ask him to get rid of the old man. When her letter is intercepted, she leaves her child in the care of farmers near Paris and escapes to America. The Archduke finds the whereabouts of his daughter but he finds the house has been destroyed by a criminal fire and figures that she died. He sets out to find his daughter's murderers and meets the evil Schoolmaster and his friend la Chouette. They actually hide the child, that they call Fleur de Marie, and force her to beg for their profit.