Hand-Picked Alternatives for Fans of The Enchanted Cottage: Cult Guide

Dir: John S. Robertson

Olivia Dangerfield and her brother are hired as servants in the household of the meticulous Mrs. Falkner. When another pair of servants is detained by the law, Olivia decides to pose as a master cook, though she knows little about the culinary arts. Meanwhile, Burton Crane, the boyfriend of Mrs. Falkner's daughter, becomes attracted to the "wonderful cook" at the Falkner home.

Dir: John S. Robertson

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

A boy called "Mascot," presumably the son of smuggler Captain Stark, is raised by Mr. Deane, the British military governor of Kingston after the boy's ship is captured. Years later in London, Mascot, now known as Stanley Deane, is the lawyer for the radical organization of mill employees called "The Well." Stanley falls in love with mill owner Amos Buckingham's daughter Alice, whom he knew when they were children. But Buckingham hates Stanley for his aid to the workmen and turns Alice against him by telling of his mysterious parentage. The workmen plan to blow up the Buckingham mansion and kill its master who, unknown to anyone, has disguised himself and gained admittance to The Well to study the real condition of the men. Stanley saves Alice, but after the explosion, a charred body supposed to be that of Buckingham is found and Stanley and all in The Well are arrested for murder. When Buckingham, still in disguise as a member of The Well is convicted, he discloses that the explosion was accidental and that the body was one he had used in his experiments. After Buckingham takes the blame for the bitterness of his workmen, everyone is acquitted. Stanley then discovers that his father is really a Boston banker and, freed of the aspersions cast upon his name, is welcomed by Buckingham as his son-in-law.

Dir: John S. Robertson

A young man with little means wants to marry a rich girl, and thinks up a scheme to get rich.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: John S. Robertson

While traveling to meet her sweetheart, Richard Carr, in the capital of the Grand Duchy of Bonaluria, Peggy Dare's train compartment door is thrust open and a little boy is thrown at her feet. Peggy is so taken with the child, who tells her that his name is Manouche, that she looks after him. She foils an attempt to kill Manouche, before arriving in Bonaluria where she learns from Richard that the boy is really the Grand Duke. Peggy and Manouche are then separated as Peggy goes to live with Richard's mother and the boy returns to court. However, the power hungry Prince Henri, who is madly in love with Peggy, abducts the little duke and holds him ransom for Peggy's affections. For the sake of the child, Peggy agrees to go away with the prince and accompanies him to the castle. Carr, believing that Peggy has betrayed him, follows and is imprisoned by the prince. They are all rescued when the Royal Guards, summoned by Peggy, arrive and arrest the prince. Carr then apologizes to Peggy for his suspicions, and together they sail for America.

Dir: John S. Robertson

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Eva, wo bist du? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Having sold his share in a mine, Gregory Drake blows it up in pique when it turns out to be good, and disappears, leaving Helen Ogden sole owner, as her father was killed in the mine. Later, in New York, Helen is much sought because of her money. Dr. Granger, a worker among the poor, induces her to see his "family," as he calls the many in want. Helen becomes interested and is loved by the poor for her good deeds among them. She buys a pin from Jack Burton on the bread line. Later Dr. Granger secures him employment as a reporter. Jack loves Helen, and she begins to feel affection for him, but he realizes that her money stands between them. Richard Drake, Gregory's son, is operating a get-rich-quick investment scheme in New York when his father turns up. By changing the names on the old sales document Gregory has reserved, the swindlers are able to steal the mine from Helen. She feels that now she and Jack are on a plane, but Dr. Granger convinces her that they must both work to recover the mine. This Helen does by becoming a stenographer at the "Money Mill" and after many adventures she and Jack are united through Dr. Granger.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Dir: John S. Robertson

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

During World War I, beautiful and patriotic Leslie Selden is courted by two ardent admirers: Jack Wynn, a young man not yet taken by the draft, and Dr. Wolff, a Danish scientist who is actually a German agent. When Jack learns that Wolff is masterminding a plot to bomb several munitions factories and destroy the water system in New York City, he goes to the spy's home and confronts him. Wolff locks him up, then forges a note to Leslie claiming that the young man has run away to escape the draft. Her suspicions aroused, Leslie alerts the authorities and plants a dictograph in Wolff's house, through which she learns of the scheduled bombings. Accompanied by the police, she arrives at Wolff's residence just in time to prevent Jack's murder and the destruction of the city.

Dir: John S. Robertson

After serving a term in prison for a crime he did not commit, a man exacts revenge upon the two people who framed him.

Dir: John S. Robertson

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.