Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of The Dragon Painter: Cult Guide

Dir: William Worthington

Monty Gray returns to the US after spending 10 years building railroads in China. As he enters a hotel he runs into an old friend from college whom he hasn't seen in years, and they begin catching up on old times. Monty notices a picture of a young woman that his friend is carrying and, bowled over by her beauty, he instantly falls for her. However, his friend tells him that he doesn't have a chance in a million of meeting the girl, who happens to be his cousin, because her mother rules the girl's life with an iron fist and is determined that she will marry royalty and not some untitled commoner. Monty is determined to have the girl, and devises a plan to win her.

Dir: William Worthington

A young man trades places with a lookalike boxer and learns to fight for what he wants.

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

Dir: William Worthington

Stuart Adams, the advance-agent for a traveling burlesque troupe, arrives in Weston, Illinois, his hometown, to publicize the coming show, "The Girl and the Garter". The Purity League, led by banker James Richards, the father of Stuart's sweetheart Hazel, attempts to stop it from opening. After kissing Hazel in public - thus outraging the League members - Stuart builds curiosity about the show by having the newspaper print Richards' admission that he viewed it in New York "to see how shocking it was". He also attaches a banner which advertises the show to Hazel's roadster during a Purity League parade. After Stuart challenges Richards to a debate, Stuart helps detective Vera Vincent, whom he met on the train, capture two crooks trying to rob Richards' bank. During the debate, Stuart, knowing that the show has been canceled, offers to end the bickering by withdrawing the show. Richards then insists that Stuart, who plans to meet Hazel at the train station to elope, come to dinner. Fortunately for Stuart, Hazel had been locked in her room by her aunt, and is still at the house.

Dir: William Worthington

Wanting her sweetheart, Judd Minot, a Maine fisherman, to develop his sculpting talents, Mary Garland encourages him to accompany art connoisseur Henry Bliss to New York City. Once there, Judd forgets Mary and becomes smitten with Bliss's attractive daughter Myrna. Although he wins fame as an artist, the party society life he leads with Myrna causes his work to suffer. When Mary learns of Judd's stagnation and fast style of living, she rushes to New York to rescue him. When he sees her, Judd realizes that Mary is the prime inspiration for all his statues and renews his love for her.

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

Dir: William Worthington

An opium smuggler is marked for murder in this story of the Chinese Mafia.

Dir: William Worthington

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

Dir: William Worthington

Japanese-American law student Suki Iota falls in love with his guardian's niece Rei Oaki, who has just arrived from Japan to cultivate her singing voice. After Suki goes East to law school, Rei, thinking Suki wants an American girl, gets Tom Kirby, the son of the Chinatown boss, to teach her American ways of dress and behavior. On his return, Suki is displeased with Rei's change and believes her to be Tom's girl when he sees them celebrating the Chinese New Year. Suki is appointed assistant district attorney and, with the whole city watching because of anonymous death threats sent to him, he steadfastly prosecutes a murder case until Tom confesses to him. To protect Rei, Suki removes himself from the case. Labeled a coward and a traitor to justice, Suki remains silent until Tom publicly confesses. Now regarded as a hero, Suki defends Tom. Rei confesses she never loved Tom, and her romance with Suki begins anew.

Dir: William Worthington

In childhood Cecile and Felix were playmates. Felix was gifted as a violinist and Cecile was fond of dancing. When Cecile's mother died her rich uncle, a domineering Frenchman, adopted her. Felix wandered the country over as a vagrant musician, until after ten years he secures employment as violinist in the orchestra at the opera house in the city where Cecile dwells. Wandering one evening Felix leans over a garden wall to behold a young girl dancing on the green. Having his violin under his arm Felix begins playing a measure, attracts the girl's attention and in the end they recognize each other as childhood sweethearts. The crabbed old uncle comes in search of the girl, and upon discovering the unconventional conduct of the young folks, strikes the girl with his cane and orders Felix from his grounds. Cecile rebels and leaves the grounds with Felix to begin living with him without the formality of marriage. There are weeks of happiness for Felix and Cecile, until the uncle demands of the police that they arrest Felix for unlawful practices and restore the girl to her guardian. At the opera house Cecile has met the director of the orchestra, who compliments her upon her dancing and flatters her vanity by declaring she should go to Paris as a premier dancer in the opera. When Felix is thrown into jail the uncle takes Cecile home with him. The girl takes advantage of an opportunity, and goes to Lecoq, the orchestra director, and begs him to take her to Paris. Lecoq has that day had an offer to become director at the Paris Grand Opera, and the girl conceives the idea of helping Felix from his predicament by effacing herself from the situation. To Paris she goes with Lecoq and the officials liberate Felix. With heavy heart the musician buries his grief in composing an opera. When the score is completed he sends his manager to Paris with the work. Lecoq is interviewed and discredits the value of the composition, but says he will present it to the management. Months pass and Felix hears nothing from his opera. He goes to Paris for the purpose of investigating. That day Felix arrives at the Paris Opera House. Lecoq is hailed as the author of a new opera. The premier of the ballot is advertised as Mlle. Genze. Felix goes that evening to the opera, discovers that Lecoq has stolen his composition, and also sees in Mlle. Genze the Cecile who deserted him and thereafter left him uninformed. Forcing his way to Mlle. Genze's dressing room, he finds her prostrated from an injury to her ankle that will keep her forever from dancing. Denouncing the girl Felix forces Lecoq to publicity admit his plagiarism. He then retires to seclusion crowned with the laurels of genius. Cecile languishes with a broken heart. Her physician learns her story, prevails upon her uncle to take her once more into his home, and when the girl still shows no sign of recovery, the uncle goes to Felix and tells him that Cecile lingers at death's door because of a broken heart. Felix forgets everything but his love for Cecile, goes to her and there is a blissful reunion.

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

Dir: William Worthington

Jeffrey Wall, the dissipated grandson of a wealthy man, requests that a farewell party be given in his honor before he is disinherited. During the wild banquet, a Mexican dancer assaults Mary Drew and then shoots a man, but suspicion is cast on Jeffrey. At the death of her father, Mary is called home to her little village on the Mexican border but is followed by the lecherous dancer, who soon becomes the head of a gang of bandits. Jeffrey traces him and learns that the outlaws have taken control of a small rancho, shot its owner and kidnapped Mary. Jeffrey visits the rancho disguised as a ghost, and as the outlaws are fleeing in terror, the sheriff and his men arrive and arrest them all. Wall, Sr., pleased with the improvements in his son's character, comes West to bless the marriage of Jeffrey and Mary.

Dir: William Worthington

Only a seven-passenger motor and $100, to be spent exclusively for gasoline or repairs, was Arnold Baird's share of his father's property. Light-hearted by nature, Baird made the most of his legacy and started a "jitney bus" line. When James Bennett, general manager of the Consolidated Traction Co., learned Baird had been practically cut off in his father's will, he informed Baird that his daughter would never marry a pauper and to go out and make his fortune. Bennett's decision suited Mrs. Bennett, who was eager to shine in society and planned to gain her ends by marrying Ruth to Wm. Mott-Smith, who controlled the traction company. When Ruth got the chance to tell Mr. Mott-Smith what she thought of him, she left no room for doubt. Ruth met Baird secretly and she was first to know of Baird's jitney-bus plans. Israel Helmstone, leader of organized labor, decided that the employees of the Consolidated Traction Co. deserved an increase in pay. Bennett refused Helmstone's demands and the labor leader called Baird into consultation. Helmstone's daughter, Wanda, employed as stenographer by Mr. Mott-Smith, furnished inside information that showed the weakness of Bennett's defense. The car strike was called and traffic paralyzed. The next morning the "Social Rapid Transit Company" sprang into operation. Mott-Smith, Bennett and their associates were filled with consternation. Baird's pals in society entered their cars for public patronage and "jitney bused" the traction company to its knees. When strike-breakers were called in there was nobody to ride, for the public preferred the limousines. When Bennett cried for mercy, Baird was the intermediary. Fate decreed that Baird should be the one to rush to Mott-Smith's office to rescue Wanda Helmstone from the clutches of the drunken society leper. Settling with Bennett was no hard matter for Baird. His terms were $10,000 a year for becoming assistant general manager and six months' vacation to enjoy a honeymoon on which Ruth was to be the bride.