The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of The Desired Woman: Cult Guide

Dir: Paul Scardon

Polly Biggs helps care for her younger brother and sisters, while her widowed mother works hard as a seamstress to earn a living. Mayor Hoadley, Mrs. Biggs' brother, a crooked politician, calls to sympathize with her on the death of her husband, and Polly takes a dislike to him. Within a short time Mrs. Biggs dies and for the sake of appearances, Hoadley and his wife take the children to live with them. Oxmore, a reform candidate, opposes Hoadley's re-election. His son John, an artist, meets Polly and calls on her at the Hoadley mansion, where he saves her from the advances of Hawkins, a ward boss who "has something" on Hoadley. Hawkins threatens to "get" John for his interference, and the threat is heard by Hoadley. Polly and the children are treated so badly that they run away to the poorhouse, which later burns; Polly saves the children, and they wander to a bungalow in the woods, John, who owns the bungalow, finds them there, and permits them to stay all night. During the night Hoadley visits Hawkins and kills him in self-defense, using a cane that John has inadvertently left at his house, when John goes to town he is arrested. Polly and the children are his only alibi, and he cannot tell of Polly's presence. The evidence is strong against him, and if he is convicted his father will lose the election. Polly, who has been sent away by Hoadley, returns in time to straighten matters.

Dir: Paul Scardon

John Olsen, the foreman in an iron foundry, is persuaded by two of the workmen to rob the company safe, an operation so successful that the three decide to embark on a career of safe cracking. While pulling a job, John breaks his leg and is forced to take refuge in the home of Belle Foliot, whose husband is serving a life sentence. As she tends John's injured leg, Belle falls in love with him and decides to join the gang, and when she becomes trapped during a robbery, John remains at the scene of the crime so that she can escape. Following his five year prison term, John declares that he is going straight, whereupon Belle leaves him. John marries and buys a farm, but one day his arresting officer, Lieut. Reilly, appears and reveals his past to his wife and the townspeople. As a result, the farmers shun him and his wife divorces him. He is about to break into the bank when Belle and Reilly arrive. Promising to go straight, Belle accompanies John out West to a new life.

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

Dir: Paul Scardon

David Solomon, a wealthy banker, is merciless in his dealings with his rich clients, from whom he exacts the highest interest. He aids the poor as much as possible. To facilitate his kindness among the people of the Ghetto, he runs there a pawnshop, unlike all others, for to the needy he measures out money, not according to the value of the articles they offer, but according to their needs. David's son, Maurice, is given to high living. It grieves his father, who is, however, consoled by the fact that his daughter, Ethel, seconds her father's charities by maintaining a day nursery for the children of the poor. One day David sees a young girl fall unconscious in the street. He takes her to the hospital where the doctor tells him that the girl, Mary, is suffering from exhaustion. David's heart is touched and he resolves to make Mary's future his own care. When she has regained her strength he finds her a position as a model in a dress house of a friend, Silver. Ethel visits the dress house to buy gowns, bringing Maurice with her. He sees Mary for the second time, having noticed her upon the street. Maurice arranges to meet Mary under an assumed name, and pursues his courtship with all seeming love. She so learns to worship Maurice that she gives him all, not stopping to count the cost, nor to demand the wedding ring. For a brief while Mary tastes of a great happiness, but Stevins, the man for whom she once worked, and who, because she would not encourage his advances, drove her from every honest position, naming her as a thief, visits the dress house to get gowns for "The Bunch of Flowers," a set of girls so termed by Maurice who has been much in their company. He recognizes Mary, repeats the accusation, and her employer discharges her. Mary returns to the little flat supported by Maurice, where she tells her story. Maurice has begun to tire of her. He seeks Stevins, who tells a seemingly truthful story. Maurice believes it and leaves Mary, writing to this effect. He, however, does not know that the girl he has wronged is about to become a mother. Six years elapse, and we find Mary and her little son, living in poverty. Again she is rescued by David Soloman, who has called to see a deserving case next door to Mary, the object of his charity being Mrs. Payne, the landlady who drove Mary from her door, and who is now a paralytic. Mary tells David her story, showing him the letter from her lover. He recognizes the writing of his own son. He takes his grandson home with him where the child is seen by Maurice, who is conscience stricken. Heinstitutes a search for Mary. Stevins, the man who hounded Mary, needs a further extension of his loan from David. But David, having learned what he has done, Mary forces him to the wall and ruins him. Goldstein, who has been a faithful secretary to David, resigns. He loves the daughter of David, but being a poor man does not declare his love and so decides to leave for other parts of the country. David has watched the love which has existed between Ethel and Goldstein, and gives Goldstein a check for a large amount, quite sufficient to start them on their honeymoon. David informs Maurice by telegraph, not signing his name, where Mary may he found. He then goes to her with her little son. Maurice arrives, and makes reparation by marrying Mary.

Dir: Paul Scardon

Hal Page, the weakling brother of Stephen Page, the town mayor, falls in love with Carline Shrefton, who throws over Burt Staley to entangle Hal in her self-serving schemes. Furious over her abrupt departure, Staley shows up at Carline's, and a jealous fight with Hal ensues in which Staley is shot and killed with Carline's gun. After Hal confesses to the deed, Stephen quietly sends him off to Spain. One year later, Stephen announces his engagement to Marion Hayward, the daughter of the district attorney, who is pressing charges against James Reed, a corrupt politician and Carline's new husband. To save Reed, Carline threatens Stephen with exposure, but he refuses to bend to her demands. Just days before Carline is to reveal her story about Staley, Hal appears and confesses to Hayward that Carline is the true killer. After verifying Hal's story, Hayward grills Carline, who finally admits her guilt. A matured Hal is restored to his family and Reed is sent away for his crimes.

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

Dir: Paul Scardon

Gifted with charm of manner and a prepossessing appearance, Arsene Lupin, instead of employing his talents along legitimate lines, prefers to match his wits against those of the French police, with the result that he becomes the most celebrated crook of his time. Always after big game, he moves in the most exclusive circles of French society, and takes advantage of an opportunity to pass himself off as the Duke de Charmerace. Assuming the Duke's title and estates, he sets about the delicate task of stealing the rare works of art and the enormously valuable jewels belonging to a M. Guernay-Martin. As the first step in this direction he becomes engaged to Germaine, Guernay-Martin's daughter. Under the cloak of their hospitality he commits a series of audacious robberies, stealing old masters off the walls and always signing his name on the wallpaper to show he committed the theft. The distracted art collector calls in Guerchard, the shrewdest detective in Paris, but even under the nose of this sleuth, the thefts continue as before. Germaine's secretary, Sonla Kritchnoff, attracts more than the passing attention of Lupin and before he has finished with the Guernay-Martins he finds himself in love with her. Guerchard finally draws the net of suspicion so closely about Lupin that the latter is forced to leave the Guernay-Martin home and hide in his own apartment. Just before leaving he discovers that Sonia is also a thief, and the shock of this knowledge determines him to lead a straight life thereafter and take her along with him. Though Guerchard trails him to his hiding place he makes use of an ingenious concealed elevator and at the last exciting moment, slips from between the detective's fingers and escapes with Sonia to safety.

Dir: Paul Scardon

A doctor transplants the brain of a girl who is in love with him into a girl he is in love with.

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

Dir: Paul Scardon

Lawler, a dishonest promoter, has Winton in his power, the latter believing that he has killed Yawkey, Lawler's partner. For his silence, Lawler demands the hand of Winton's daughter Josephine. Meanwhile, Billy Mountain, a man whom Lawler has swindled, arrives and, disguised by a heavy beard, interests his old enemy in a proposition. He invites Lawler on his yacht and makes him a prisoner. Josephine, fearing that Lawler will expose her father, accompanies them when they sail for a South American country involved in a revolution. When they land, Josephine frees Lawler, who joins the forces of the government. Billy and his partner, allied with the revolutionaries, plan an attack on the president and his forces. In the battle, Billy is captured and sentenced to death, but when the tide turns in favor of the revolutionaries, he escapes. With the appearance of Yawkey, Josephine is freed from Lawler's power and begins life anew with Billy.

Dir: Paul Scardon

Lieutenant Commander Colton, U.S.N., is in love with Caroline Austen, daughter of a prominent political power in Washington. Colton has a rival in James Archer, a journalist of prominence, unscrupulous and secretly in league with the Ruanian Ambassador, who is endeavoring to obtain for his country inside information as to the United States naval resources. Gilman Austen, Caroline's brother, receives an appointment to the Naval Academy. He is much in love with Ethel McMasters, daughter of a superintendent, and pays so much attention to her that his term marks in navigation are so low as to preclude his passing the semi-annual examination. He is told of this by Captain McMasters, and Colton, Caroline Austen and Ethel McMasters then get busy in Oilman's behalf, Caroline working with Colton, who is in love with her. and Ethel attempting to influence her father, but these two officers absolutely refuse to exercise any influence in Oilman's favor. Mr. Austen, Sr., then takes a hand in the game, but finds naval men a different proposition from politicians, and as a result Gilman is forced to leave the Academy. Mr. Austen uses his power and has Colton transferred to the command of a collier. Gilman Austen, however, grits his teeth and 'lists in the navy as an apprentice, and here we see him carried through all his training experiences. Colton being of an inventive turn of mind and realizing the weakness of the submarines is in the battery, invents a new battery. Archer hears of this and informs the Ruanian Ambassador, who offers the traitorous journalist almost any sum to secure these plans. Archer is prevented from securing them by Gilman Austen, who is now a full-fledged able seaman, serving under the name of Roger Brown. The Ambassador then determines upon a big coup. He directs Archer, who now is completely in his power, to have a Ruanian merchant ship lay a series of mines in the channel through which the warships must pass. Colton has been placed in command of the submarine flotilla, and Gilman Austen is on duty with the D-2. Through Caroline Austen, Colton learns of the plot, and as the ships are due to arrive that night, Colton takes command of the D-2, goes out and submerges his boat. Time is precious, and Colton realizes that he cannot take the D-2 through the mines, so he has himself shot out of a torpedo tube and swims through the mines, goes on board the merchant ship and blows up the mines just before the fleet comes in. Colton is badly wounded and is rescued by Gilman Austen and the submarine crew. For his work in this action, as well as his general reputation and good character, Gilman Austen is sent back to the Naval Academy. Colton marries Caroline.

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

Dir: Paul Scardon

Mr. Curtis returns to his Alma mater and regales students with stories about the Civil War, which ended fifty years before. He tells them about his college friends, Dick Randolph and Watkins, who were at first rivals for Marian - who far preferred Dick - and then rivals on the battlefield. Watkins, a Union officer, captured Dick, a Confederate, but Marian helped her sweetheart escape. Watkins and Dick were then wounded in the same battle and died in each other's arms after asserting their friendship and forgetting their past differences. Back in the present, an aged Marian joins the group. She dies while listening to Mr. Curtis, and fifty years after she and Dick had been lovers in the flesh, her spirit goes to join his.

Dir: Paul Scardon

Dorothy Arden is private secretary to Godfrey Lovell, known as the Croesus of Wall Street. His Western partner is Daniel Casselis, who has a daughter named Dorothy. Lovell has a son, Robert, and the two financiers are trying to arrange a match between their children. But Robert falls in love with his father's secretary and marries her, but on returning home to tell dad, he finds that Lovell is ill and has gone on a long sea voyage to recuperate. Bob is sent to Chicago to see Casselis and invite him and his daughter to come on the cruise with Lovell, and Dorothy is greatly distressed at this turn of events. Bob reassures her, however, and still they do not tell his father. Bob meets Miss Casselis on the Limited as she is returning from an Eastern trip and they become friends. Meanwhile, Dorothy has determined to go on the yachting trip, so when the whole party arrive at Frisco Bob finds his wife awaiting them. Many amusing complications occur during the voyage and jealousies are aroused. The yacht anchors off a lonely island in the Pacific and Bob, with the two Dorothys, goes ashore. The yacht is driven out to sea by a terrible storm, leaving the three stranded on the Island of Surprise. Bob is hurt in a terrific landslide and the blow causes him to lose his memory. Dorothy tries in vain to call to mind his marriage to her, and Miss Casselis, thinking Dorothy is merely bluffing, is not to be outdone and claims Bob is her husband. Bob finally settles an uncomfortable situation by telling the women he will simply remain their friend and protector. Meanwhile, the yacht has had to send out a boat for the nearest land, owing to engine trouble, and a man-of-war is met. She is directed to the island, and arrives just in time to drop a shrapnel among a horde of island savages who are attacking the three castaways and just about to annihilate them. Rescued by the navy men, the three castaways are reunited with their party. Bob recovers consciousness and recognizes his wife, and all ends in forgiveness and happiness.