Visionary Picks In Alignment with the style of The Flame of Hellgat...

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

Dir: Edgar Jones

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

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

Dir: Charles Horan

While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.

Dir: Frank Beal

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

During a raging Montana snowstorm, Doctor Jim Barnes collapses at Esther Anderson's cabin door. Esther offers Jim refuge, but when he discovers that their food supplies are running dangerously low, he braves the journey into town in order to replenish them. On the way, he is overcome with exhaustion and fails to return. Esther, unaware of Jim's condition and abused by her stepfather, joins a theatrical troop and leaves home. Time passes and Jim finally finds Esther, but a vindictive member of her troupe accuses her of having an affair with the manager and Jim believes the accusation. He leaves and Esther goes to New York City where she becomes engaged to a jealous artist, although she still loves Jim. Sam Tuttle, a long time friend, is aware of Esther's continuing love, and so brings Jim to New York City in time to save Esther from an unhappy marriage.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: George E. Middleton

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Devil's Riddle perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

On her way to join her father, John Folinsbee, in the gold rush town of Poverty Flat, Lily meets and falls in love with a young miner named Joe, but her beauty also captures the heart of the local gentleman gambler, Jack Hamlin. Unimpressed with the poor but hopeful miner, Lily's father takes her to Europe to introduce her to wealthier suitors, and in Paris, she is courted by the Count De Brie until he learns that schemers in California have taken control of Folinsbee's mine. In the meantime, Joe strikes it rich, only to be abducted by the villainous Sanchez and his gang. Upon Lily's arrival home, she and Jack attempt to rescue Joe, and although their efforts prove successful, Jack is mortally wounded. Dying, Jack joins the hands of the two young sweethearts.

Dir: George E. Middleton

Young Nell loses her job and home and her father is sent to prison. She joins the Salvation Army and tries to redeem him when he comes out bent on continuing his life of crime.

Dir: Maurice Elvey

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

A lady marries a horse trainer but withholds herself until her crippled brother is cured.

Dir: Unknown Director

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: George E. Middleton

Beatriz Michelena plays the role of the princess Beatrix, of France, singing in opera in Rome; she is loved by Noel Brent, a young American, by the Duke de Grozzi, of the Italian foreign office, and by a Count, who is concerned in an international intrigue, which involves a secret treaty between Italy and Russia, to the detriment of France. The princess is led to bestow her affections on the Count, to the anger of the Duke, and the bitter disappointment of Noel, who goes away to Paris. The French ambassador learns of the secret treaty, and appeals to the patriotism of the Princess to steal it and send it to Paris long enough for the foreign office to peruse it. The treaty is in the safe of her fiance, and the princess manages to get it, and deliver it to the messenger, who starts for Paris. On his return, the messenger is waylaid by the Duke's agents, who seek to recover the treaty. Noel comes on the scene in time to get the document, and learning that the Princess' reputation is in danger unless the treaty is returned, hurries with it to Rome. He is in time to save the Princess from an attack by the Duke, who has lured her to his office, and after numerous complications, the treaty is restored to its place in the safe, and the Princess comes out of the deal unscratched. She is quick to break her engagement to the Count and marries the American.