Underground Favorites Mirroring the Impact of The Dixie Merchant: C...

Dir: Frank Borzage

Giulia, a Neapolitan girl, much against her will, becomes the mistress of a wealthy gangster. Her "protector" is stabbed to death by Giulia's hot-headed musician lover Tony (Francis McDonald), whereupon the heroine takes refuge in the villa of French playwright La Farge. Under La Farge's careful tutelage, Giulia develops into a famous actress, capturing the heart of the Duke De Chaumont. Though LaFarge himself has fallen in love with the girl, he does not stand in her way when she accepts the Duke's proposal. But Giulia has not reckoned with Tony, who is still crazy about her and still willing to kill any man who stands in his way. Tony murders LaFarge, then sets his sights on the Duke, intending to kill the poor fellow during the wedding ceremony. Hoping to save the Duke's life, Giulia pretends to have fallen out of love with him and returns to Tony.

Dir: Frank Borzage

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

In the Latin Quarter of Paris, American artist David Lane (Norman Kerry) marries his model Yvonne (Olive Thomas), but just prior to the birth of their baby, David's mother dies, and he is forced to depart for the United States. In David's absence, his father hires a lawyer to convince Yvonne that David has abandoned her, and grief-stricken, she dies soon after her little girl is born. Yvonne's trusted friend Pierre rears the girl as a boy, whom he calls Toton, and trains her to become a skilled pickpocket. Meanwhile, David adopts a boy named Carew, and when he grows to manhood, the two move to Paris to establish an art studio. In robbing the studio, Pierre recognizes David, and to avenge Yvonne's death, he claims that Toton has been taught to hate her father. Later, Pierre becomes convinced of David's innocence, and before he dies, he reveals the truth to Toton. Finally, the girl is reunited with her father and marries Carew.

Dir: Frank Borzage

The matriarch of a poor Jewish family nurtures her talented son's dream of being a great violinist, but as an adult, global events call for him to postpone his dream.

Dir: Frank Borzage

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

A saloon owner loans her lover the money to buy a house, which he has led her to believe they will live in after they're married. Instead, he takes the money and buys a saloon in another town.

Dir: Frank Borzage

Successful model, Phyllis Clyne, convinces a down-and-out nobleman, Billy, to pass her off in society as titled gentry. They fall in love and when it turns out that her late father actually was a lord, they decide they now can marry.

Dir: Frank Borzage

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

American sailor Allan Carroll, an American sailor, is shipwrecked of the coast of Japan in the 19th century. He makes it to shore and is rescued by kind Yori. The local ruler, Prince Iku, has ordered that all foreigners who are "trespassing" on Japanese soil should be killed. He hears about a foreign sailor who washed ashore and has been hidden by villagers, so he sends his sister Omi San to investigate. She finds Alan, and instead of turning him in to be executed, she falls in love with him. Prince Iku captures both Allan and Yori and intends to execute both of them. Complications ensue.

Dir: Frank Borzage

When Benny Boggs, a good-natured hobo, is rejected by the U.S. Army, he decides to overcome his aversion to work and offers assistance to a farmer known as Old Man Cushing. Cushing falls seriously ill and, believing he is about to die, asks Benny to deliver a package to his daughter Ruby, who left home to pursue an acting career. Benny soon learns that the package contains $50,000, but resolves to earn the old man's trust, despite his poverty. After arriving in the city, Benny rescues Beatrice Burnett from an attacker, and the two become friends. Later, Beatrice takes Benny to visit her ailing friend, who identifies herself as Cushing's long-lost daughter. Benny gives the money to Ruby and accompanies her back to the farm, where they receive a warm greeting from Cushing, who has recovered from his illness. The army finally accepts Benny, and Ruby promises to marry him when he returns from active duty.

Dir: Frank Borzage

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

After a young inventor discovers a powerful new explosive, agents from a German chemical firm induce him to study at a German university. While there, he is repelled by certain aspects of the people, and he leaves for Belgium. When the war begins, the inventor saves a Belgian burgomaster's daughter from Prussian invaders. The inventor and the girl endure horrible suffering because of the war, but they find happiness at its end, while the formerly fighting nations direct their effort towards world peace at the Paris conferences. The assassination of Kurt Eisner of Bavaria occurs at the end.

Dir: Alexander Butler

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: Frank Borzage

Kirby kills a man in self-defense and becomes a fugitive from the police.