Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of The End of the World: Cult Guide

Dir: August Blom

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: August Blom

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

The ballet pupil Camilla Favier tells the author Jean Mayol that she had learned all lines of the main character in his new play. When the stage manager announces that the leading lady is sick, Jean suggests that Camilla could replace her this evening. Camilla makes a huge success, and she and Jean fall in love. Jean introduces her to his friend, the painter Paul Rich, who wants to make a painting of her. While she is in his atelier, Jean gets a love letter from Yvette Simon, the wife of a rich rentier, asking for a rendezvous in the wood. In Jean's empty apartment Camilla finds the letter and is devastated. In revenge she reveals the secret love story for Mr. Simon and his guests at a big party. Later she finds a new love message from Yvette Simon. She brings it to Mr. Simon, who gets furious, grabs a pistol and goes to Jean's apartment. Camilla repents and rushes away to warn Jean and Yvette. To deceive her husband Yvette dresses herself in Camilla's clothes, but he recognizes her nonetheless and kills her. Camilla is shocked and brought to a hospital by Paul, who takes care of her afterwards. When Jean turns up and approaches her, she rejects him and stays with Paul.

Dir: August Blom

Muriel Yorke has a fond husband, but he is so absorbed in his duties as head of the detective bureau that he has little time to devote to his wife. He is inattentive, not intentionally, but the fact remains that all of Muriel's pretty arts designed to distract him from his work are in vain. Time hangs heavily on her hands; she takes her meals alone, and gradually sinks into a state of melancholy. One evening while in search of recreation, Muriel visits a fashionable café unattended, and there meets Eric Le Blanc, a gentleman in manners, but in reality the chief of a band of international conspirators. He introduces himself as the Baron de Corril and Muriel keeps her identity a secret. Their friendship soon ripens into love, but Yorke is so deeply absorbed in his duties that he fails to notice the change that has come over his wife. In the interim, Le Blanc receives secret information from one of his spies that inspector Yorke has in his possession a description of every member of the gang and Le Blanc is urged to obtain possession of these at once. This he undertakes to accomplish and breaks into Yorke' s house on the same evening. During his search for the incriminating evidence, he comes face to face with Muriel, and for the first time learns her identity. He hides the real purpose of his visit to the house and explains that love had prompted him to follow her from the museum, at which they earlier had held a rendezvous. She aids him to escape, but in the meantime inspector Yorke has been attracted by strange noises in the house and makes an investigation. He enters his wife's bedroom and finding her apparently asleep, continues his search. He finds finger prints on the door and later identifies them as those of Le Blanc, the conspirator. When Muriel learns that her husband is preparing to raid on the apartment of the conspirator, she hesitates between love and duty and finally decides to warn her lover of his danger. She hastens to his apartments and implores him to escape while there is yet time. She points out that they may both leave the place without being seen, but Le Blanc refuses, and prates that her love has made him a better man, and that he proposes to accept punishment for his crimes and then lead a better life. In the meantime Yorke has obtained proof of his wife's perfidy, and with two detectives breaks into Le Blanc's apartments. Standing in the center of the drawing-room is the guilty pair awaiting the blow that is about to fall. Inspector Yorke glares scornfully at his wife for a few seconds; then challenges Le Blanc and orders his arrest. As the detectives are taking him from the room Muriel makes a move as if to rescue him, but Yorke grasps her by the wrists, and. after burning her soul with his reproaches, casts her aside as an object unworthy. She is left to her own conscience.

Dir: August Blom

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

Eileen Wells is receiving a call from her fiancé, Lieutenant Masters, when her father, General Wells, and her brother, Gordon, who is a Lieutenant, arrive bringing the startling news that war has been declared against their country by the Government of Lieutenant Masters, who is the military attaché to the embassy of the hostile country. General Wells dismisses him from his house as he is now an enemy. Upon departing for his country Lieutenant Masters returns to bid farewell to Eileen, and she gives him a carrier pigeon so that he may communicate with her. Before leaving for the scene of action, the General and Gordon acquiesce to Eileen's desire to serve as a red-cross nurse. An orderly brings to General Wells' headquarters the announcement that the Prince will, at two o'clock the next day, present the colors to the 5th Battery. This Battery is under command of Lieutenant Powell, who, acting as a tool for the enemy, steals over to the opposing forces to acquaint their commander with the presentation of the colors, and advise a surprise attack at that hour. The traitor quickly returns to his camp. In his own tent, he constructs a bomb, and places the deadly missile in a huge long-range cannon, timing the explosion for the hour of the Prince's presence. Perceiving that there is a traitor in General Wells' army, and realizing the grave danger that threatens his sweetheart's father, after a few moments deliberation, his love for Eileen prevails over his duty to his country. Lieutenant Masters dispatches a note with the pigeon, advising her that a traitor has given information of the color presentation, and that a sudden attack will take place at that hour. Eileen frantically speeds to the front in a motor car, and miraculously eluding the fusillade of the picket, she reaches her brother's camp, and imparts to him the plot. Like a flash he mounts his horse, and rides to the General's headquarters, arriving in the nick of time to save the Prince, his father and staff from the deadly explosion of the bomb. Forthwith a terrible battle ensues, the enemy manifesting splendid heroism, unheeding the multitude of shrieking, bursting shells which mow down many of their number, fairly covering the battlefield with dead and wounded. Gradually all the trenches fall into the hands of the advancing army, save the last one, which, under the command of Lieutenant Masters, offers a most obstinate resistance. The battalion of Lieutenant Wells soon overpowers it; a violent bayonet charge follows, during which Lieutenant Wells witnesses Lieutenant Masters' fall. The enemy is repulsed from its position by Lieutenant Wells' forces, and completely routed. During the interim, Eileen is nobly caring for the wounded soldiers in a field hospital, where her brother finds her, and tells her how he saw Lieutenant Masters fall, firmly clasping his country's flag. Eileen, anxious to learn her sweetheart's fate, induces Gordon to accompany her to the battlefield. After searching for some time, they finally come across Lieutenant Masters lying among the dead, seriously wounded. They have him placed upon a stretcher, and send him to their home, which had been converted into an emergency hospital. Determined to drive the enemy from their last stronghold, Lieutenant Wells volunteers to blow up this fortress. Up and down snow-covered mountains, through the intricacies of barbed-wire entanglements, and overcoming numerous obstacles, he at last reaches the fortress. The sentries guarding the entrance are killed by a bursting shell, whereupon the Lieutenant, entering the court, comes face to face with Powell, who offers his sword to Wells that he may kill him. The latter rejecting the sword, ignites a bomb, the explosion of which shatters the powder magazine, killing and burying under the debris the traitor. Accompanied by strains of martial music, the victorious army marches into the fortress, and receives the surrender of the holding forces, thus consummating a complete victory. Soon after, General Wells has returned to his home, the Prince comes to confer decorations upon him and his son for their heroism. Lieutenant Masters, now convalescing, under the care of Eileen, obtains the consent of her father to their marriage, and receives the praises of the Prince for his services to the country.

Dir: August Blom

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: August Blom

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of In Defense of a Nation perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Chancellor von Rallenstein forces Princess Irene to marry Prince Deima instead of her true love, Pawlow. The secret lovers seek to get married anyway, sending the Chancellor into a rage.

Dir: August Blom

Count Von Teyn is a young officer in a cavalry regiment, and after a romantic courtship and marriage he unwittingly subscribes to a fund for the benefit of Miss Phoebe, a professional equestrienne. The latter thanks the Count by letter and asks that she be permitted to thank him in person. The letter falls into the hands of his wife, Lydia, and she witnesses the meeting and returns to her parents in a jealous rage. The Count later begs for forgiveness and a reconciliation follows. In a race for the King's cup, Count Von Teyn is one of the principal riders and Lydia, in company with her millionaire father, Peter Romford, and many other notables, occupy box seats in the grandstand. During the steeplechase, Count Von Teyn is thrown from his mount and injured. The family physician calls in consultation two eminent specialists and they agree that the young nobleman has suffered injuries which will cause him to be a cripple for life. Lydia bears this news with fortitude, and resolves to devote the remainder of her life to the care of her husband. The latter suffers intense agony and on one occasion attempts to gain possession of a revolver belonging to a brother officer, who is paying him a visit. Failing in this attempt to end his life, the Count implores his wife to furnish him with the means of self-destruction. As well as his helpless state will permit, he pictures the agonies which foe must suffer until death brings relief and Lydia finally succumbs to his pleading and furnishes the medium. It is now her turn to bear the unspeakable suffering which possesses her at the mere thought of her act. The authorities charge her with the murder of her husband and she is placed on trial. She pleads her innocence after a scathing denunciation at the hands of the public prosecutor. The summing up of the judges is prolonged, but in the end, Lydia is acquitted and leaves the courtroom surrounded by her parents and friends.

Dir: August Blom

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

A Mormon missionary seduces and kidnaps an attractive young woman, forcing her to accompany him to Utah to become one of his wives.

Dir: August Blom

A melodrama about a dead brothers wish for atonement regarding a child he never recognized as his. Gerd, is now 18, adopted by a shoemaker, is surprised by the message that she actually belongs to a wealthy family who now wants to take care of her.

Dir: August Blom

The notorious criminal Barra is approached by Agent Frank for a profitable collaboration. The brand new designs of a revolutionary internal combustion engine is the target.