Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of The Gilded Cage: Cult Guide

Dir: Harley Knoles

Evelyn Carmichael, a poor widow aware that she is about to die, writes to her wealthy father-in-law Lord Carmichael, who had disowned his son years earlier, pleading that he rescue his granddaughter Geraldine, known as Jerry, from a life in the slums. Lord Carmichael, an avowed woman-hater since his wife disappeared years earlier with his brother, expects Jerry to be a boy and is appalled to find otherwise. However, the lord is won over by Jerry's sweetness, and when Jim Dawson, a neighbor of Jerry's from the tenements, arrives at Carnimore Castle with his daughter Sophia, whom he is trying to pass off as Jerry, the lord exposes them as impostors and then expels them from his castle. Meanwhile, Jerry has also won over the hearts of the servants, whom she is drilling into a play army. One day, while on an excursion into an unused tower of the castle, they discover a locked room in which reside two skeletons. A note near one of the skeletons explains that Lord Carmichael's wife and his brother had been exploring the tower when the lock sprung and trapped them, causing their deaths. Lord Carmichael, realizing that his wife didn't betray him, has his faith in women restored and makes Jerry mistress of the castle.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Madge Evans, World Film Corp. juvenile star, is sent to her Quaker grandparents, Timothy and Tabitha Mendenhall, when her father and mother go to serve in World War I. After bidding farewell to the World stars, Madge goes to her grandparent's home where she experiences stern discipline. Jonathan Mendenhall, her uncle, is anxious to enlist, but is forbidden by his father, whose religion opposes fighting. Madge creeps into the old Quaker's heart by degrees, but he maintains unrelenting discipline in the household. Jonathan comes of age, enlists despite his father's opposition, and is disowned. When Madge's latest picture comes to town, the child implores her grandfather to take her to see it, but he refuses. Timothy secretly visits the theater, however, and is completely won over by Madge's acting. A change takes place in the old Quaker's nature as he praises Madge, forgives his son and writes to Madge's mother, whom he had cast out when she married against his will, to be sure and bring her husband back safe.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Little Carol Montgomery's father, a navy commander, discovers a spy in the house, he earnestly counsels the family not to answer questions regarding themselves. Later, while attempting to follow her mother, Carol becomes lost on the subway, and, taking her father's words to heart, refuses to tell a police officer who she is. Eluding the officer, Carol falls asleep in a tenement hallway where she is found by Beppo, an organ grinder who decides to add her to his show. They travel south, where, becoming separated from Beppo, Carol seeks refuge at the Fairfax plantation. Mrs. Fairfax, estranged from her husband because he had disowned their daughter years earlier when she eloped without his permission, refuses to speak to anyone. However, under Carol's winning influence, the Fairfaxes are reconciled and send for their long-lost daughter, who turns out to be Carol's mother.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Helene, who dances in a Greenwich Village cabaret accompanied on the violin by her grandfather, loses her job after his death. She then is hired as a portrait model by four artists--Jaffrey Darrel, Ned Lorrimer, Dick Turner and Stanley Sargent--all of whom become fascinated with her. Helene leaves the Village when Ned's jealousy disrupts the camaraderie of the quartet and becomes a stage star. Meanwhile, all of the artists have attained success except Jaffrey, who refuses to taint his art with commercialism. Helene, learning of Jaffrey's failure, visits him in the Village and accepts his marriage proposal.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Neglected by her grief-stricken father, a doctor, after the tragic death of his wife, little Eileen Homer changes the wording of her father's ad for a governess to read: "Wanted, a mother." A laborer named Giuseppe asks Dr. Homer to operate on his ailing son, but when the boy dies, the enraged father attacks the doctor. Eileen meets her father's friend, Dr. Thelma Winter, and that night, while dreaming that Dr. Winter has become her fairy mother, she walks in her sleep to the edge of the lake. Wandering aimlessly in his grief, Giuseppe rescues the girl and takes her home to fill the void left by the loss of his son. In trying to return home, Eileen falls from the fire escape and is rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Winter saves her life. Afterwards, the grateful Dr. Homer becomes a more loving father with the help of his new wife, Dr. Winter, and Giuseppe becomes the family's gardener.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

As a prank, college student William Lewis and some of his friends break into a house and are interrupted by a policeman who is accidentally shot. Will's friend Sid accuses Will of the shooting, but Will manages to escape and moves to a large city far away. He meets and marries Alice Hamilton, and they later have a daughter, Editha. Will has a job as a bank teller and everything is going fine--until Sid shows up one day and threatens to expose Will as the man who killed the officer unless Will helps him rob the bank. Complications ensue.

Dir: Harley Knoles

James Rallston has married a rich widow who is an invalid with a daughter, Jean. Being in financial difficulties, he plans to get control of his wife's fortune. A woman doctor, Miss Lane, attends Mrs. Rallston and by drugging her reduces her to such a condition of physical impotency that no difficulty is found, by the aid of an unscrupulous keeper of a sanitarium. Dr. Garside, to secure an order for commitment and deprive her of liberty. Fifteen years pass. Rallston lives in magnificent style on his wife's money. He believes her to be dying. Miss Lane hopes to marry Rallston when Mrs. Rallston dies, but instead of dying, she recovers her health and is perfectly sane. Meanwhile, Rallston speculates heavily and loses his daughter's fortune. He tries to persuade the girl to marry an old friend Bigelow, to whom he appeals for help in recovering his fortune. Bigelow suspects Rallston of deception, as well as dishonesty, and is unwilling to believe that Mrs. Rallston is either dead or insane. Bigelow forces up the price of a stock and recovers Jean's fortune for her. Then he disguises himself and, obtaining admission to the sanitarium, rescues Mrs. Rallston. The keeper of the sanitarium, Dr. Garside, takes to flight, and Rallston is killed in an automobile accident. Miss Lane confesses her crime. Mother and daughter are reunited and the girl marries the man of her choice.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

A social-climbing young woman marries Robert, a rich alcoholic, for his money. Although basically a good man, when drunk Robert treats her as if she's just one more thing he owns, and not his wife. Realizing her mistake, she leaves him. Her brother-in-law believes that the two of them actually do love each other, and sets out to bring them back together.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jo March and her sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy live in a happy family in Concord, Massachusetts. Jo yearns to be a writer, and through the course of the years, finds much within her own family to write about.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Myron Leeds and his brother Roger are both in love with Mary, but when Myron wins her, his father disowns him. While Myron struggles as an artist to support his wife and little daughter Beth, Roger marries and settles into his father's sumptuous estate. Roger's maid Norah, concerned when the death of his little boy causes him and his wife to shut themselves off from all society, invites Beth to visit the estate posing as her niece. Beth endears herself to the couple, but Myron, driven to desperation by his poverty and his wife's ill health, decides to rob the estate. Roger hears that someone is breaking in, but in attempting to shoot the intruder, he wounds Beth instead. As a result of this unhappy incident, Roger resolves to share his fortune with his brother, and the family is reunited.