Hand-Picked Alternatives for Fans of The Gilded Lily: Cult Guide

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

Ambrosia is a sweet little girl of tender heart and loving disposition, who lives near to nature in fancy and ideals. Her mother dies, and she is sent to an aunt in the city, whom Ambrosia calls "Aunt Grouchy," to be reared as her own child. The aunt is of dignified and austere disposition, far different from Ambrosia's dead mother, and the atmosphere is a decided change from the freedom of country life and the tenderness of mother love. Ambrosia makes friends with the boy next door, and these two greatly enjoy their romps and play together. Ambrosia's cousin is in love with a poor young man, and her mother objects to his attentions, desiring for her daughter an advantageous marriage, regardless of the girl's wishes or thoughts of love. "Aunt Grouchy" is a disciple of Hindu mystics, and consults the "Swami," seeking his aid. The "Swami" practices hypnotism upon the daughter of "Aunt Grouchy," influences her to send a note breaking off the affair with the young man, and finally kidnaps the girl and holds her for ransom. Ambrosia and the boy next door discover where the girl is being held prisoner and inform the police. While the kidnappers' den is being raided, the "Swami" is at "Aunt Grouchy's" in the act of collecting the ransom money, under guise of a tribute to the Buddhist's god, but when the Secret Service men arrive and arrest him, his true character is exposed. The raid is accomplished at a critical moment, the girl is saved from harm, and when "Aunt Grouchy's" eyes are opened she realizes her past shortcomings. Conquering her proud disposition, she gives her sanction to her daughter's marriage to the poor young man, and Ambrosia lives happily ever after.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

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

Little Eve has always been the companion of her father, who, with his friend, John Elbertson, roams the face of the earth in search of rare botanical specimens. Eve has never known her mother and has been reared by her father in the studious atmosphere of the scientist, without any thought of love or anything approaching affection having entered her life. Shortly after the play begins her father decides she shall marry his friend, who is a man many years Eve's senior. The girl accepts the dictum as a matter of course. At this time they are in the heart of South Africa following their scientific pursuits. A native runner brings cabled information that there will be at Los Angeles a meeting of botanists, and the two men decide that they will attend. Eve, of course, going along as part of the traveling equipment. James Barton, a young man of wealth and of a highly flirtatious disposition, has grown tired of New York society and decides to shift the scene of his activities to Los Angeles. Shortly after he arrives there the attentions of the hotel guests is divided between his escapades with every pretty girl in sigh and the strange gathering of delegates to the convention. Little Eve Edgarton has attracted considerable attention from the guests, because being a rather pretty girl she remains hobnobbing with the botanists. Dressed very plainly and unattractively, her big bow spectacles make her noticeable upon the verandas and in the rotunda of the fashionable resort hotel. Barton has a cousin who has set her heart upon the young man marrying his friend, Miss Van Eaton. This cousin is inclined to play pranks upon Barton, and when she introduces Barton to Eve Edgarton, the courtesies are extended more as a joke than anything else. But, as in many cases, this joke did not work out as intended. Barton takes a sudden interest in the little botanist and the flirtatious young man finds much to attract him in the quaint and unusual personality of the little student. They indulge in horseback rides and gradually becomes better acquainted. On one occasion, while they have ridden their horses to the top of a mountain, a violent electric storm comes upon them and during the outburst, Barton is struck by lightning. Eve half drags and half carries him to a cave she has discovered in the mountain and by scientific methods of massage, she restores him from the shock. Here in the cave the senior Edgarton and his friend Elbertson accidentally discover the young couple, and then it is that the minds of the scientists are opened to the fact that youth courts youth and age is out of the running. We are left to believe that ultimately the young couple will enter a new life in partnership.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

When Richard Earle marries Elaine Bronson for her money, he orders her to keep the marriage a secret so that he may continue his affair with a married woman, Lucille Bennett. Jimmy Newton falls in love with Elaine and takes her to his home after she is injured in a car accident. When Richard discovers the two together, he beats Elaine, until Lucille, having discovered Richard's duplicity and cruelty, enters the house and shoots him. Free of Richard, Elaine becomes engaged to Jimmy.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

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

Margaret MacLean, who has been saved from life in a wheelchair by the miracle of medicine, vows to devote her life to caring for crippled children. She becomes a nurse in the children's ward of Dr. MacLean's hospital, but after the beloved doctor's death, his son Bob returns home from abroad and decrees that he is closing the ward and that Margaret's little charges must leave the hospital. Furious, Margaret quits her job and storms out, with Bob in pursuit. As he rushes across the street, Bob is struck by a car and must be hospitalized. During his convalescence, he realizes that he is in love with Margaret and decides to have a home built for her and her patients. Unable to locate Margaret, Bob hires detectives, who find her and bring her to the home. There Margaret finds that all her dreams have come true as she sees her little charges happily living in their new home and gladly accepts Bob's proposal of marriage.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

Wanting to escape from the drab life of the country, Helen Wayne moves to the big city and becomes a secretary for the Calder family. Just before beginning her new job, however, Helen meets a man who promises to take the hungry girl to dinner. When she goes to the prearranged meeting place, she is arrested and her name is put on the police record. Some time later, Helen and young Rand Calder fall in love. As they are about to announce their engagement, Martin Ingleton, the man who earlier had caused Helen's arrest, attempts to ruin Rand's business ventures. When all of the principals go to court to fight the issue, Ingleton recognizes Helen and tries to label her a woman of unworthy character. Instead of causing Rand to admonish her, however, Ingleton instigates Helen to tell the judge her story and she is exonerated.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

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

In the late fifties John Hogue, his wife and daughter, Dora, are living in a little cabin on the edge of civilization, directly in the path of the great caravans of Mormons as they made their way from the States to their community in Utah. One of these caravans, under the guidance of Elder Darius Burr, a power among the Mormons, passes the Hogue cabin and Tom Rigdon, a youthful convert to the newer religion, is impressed by Dora. His interest in the girl is shared by Burr, but with different motives. The Indians raid the Hogue cabin and the family is forced to join the Mormon party despite the fact that Dora's father and mother have many misgivings. Arrived in Salt Lake City, the Hogues are taken aback by the presence of the Avenging Angels, the peculiar group of masked men who seem to have unlimited power. Hogue is an industrious man and soon becomes quite prominent. Burr, coveting Dora, induces "The Lion," head of the church, to insist that Hogue take a second wife and gains his permission to win Dora if he can. Meanwhile, Tom and Dora have become more and more attached to each other. Four Angels intercept them and separate them, Dora being taken into a room adjoining the council chamber. Hogue is brought in and forced to marry a woman he has never seen and Dora is told by Burr that the only way she can save her father is by marrying him. Ignorant of the fact that he has actually been married, Dora decided to comply in order to save her father. When Hogue's second wife is brought to the house by the Avenging Angels, Dora's mother kills herself. Hogue, Tom and Dora then try to escape, but are caught by the Angels and the girl is taken to Burr's household. Hogue is taken out to the desert to die of thirst, but makes his way back to the settlement, killing one of the Angels and donning his peculiar uniform, in which he is safe from molestation. When Dora is brought before the council to be married, she declares she cannot marry Burr because of her past sins, and she is condemned to die. Tom is spirited away by an Avenging Angel who also unlocks Dora from her prison cell and flees with them, with Burr in pursuit. Getting Burr aside, the Avenging Angel takes him to the spot where the fugitives are hiding, and reveals himself as Hogue. Burr is sent out into the desert to die, just as he has condemned Hogue to do, and the three make their escape from the dread community.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

Senator Wright and foundry foreman Richard Wallace lobby hard in Washington for passage of a war preparedness bill, which Congress finally enacts. Foreign spies Keron Theris and Orlin Dagore tell their governments that it will be at least two years before the United States is ready to fight, though, thus guaranteeing the success of an immediate invasion. Richard, however, called in by the president, presents him with a plan through which American industry could arm the country almost instantly. The president puts the plan into action, and Theris and Dagore quickly revise their opinion and warn their governments against an invasion of the United States.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

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

Famous romance writer Hartly Poole retreats to the country for inspiration. There he meets ardent admirer Justina Chaffin, who is about to marry a fortune-hunting scoundrel. After Justina and Hartly fall in love, she discovers her fiancé's deception and flees to Hartly's cottage. Seeing her car parked in front, the sheriff accuses Hartly of abduction, but all is resolved when Justina and Hartly exchange vows.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

Moralistic Aunt Elvira, has raised Elena Evans and believes that because of Elena's mother, Elena possesses "the scarlet strain." Aunt Elvira scolds Elena when the youngster is caught flirting with Van Presby. Elena and Van sneak out to a movie and then return home where Aunt Elvira demands that they get married. Van's uncle, Harvey Presby, prevents the hurried marriage and takes Elena to the home of Van's mother Edith Presby. Mrs. Presby accepts Elena and sends Van off to college. When Mrs. Presby discovers that Uncle Harvey, in whom she is interested herself, has developed an interest in Elena, she plans to marry Elena off to Joseph Fleming. Elena later rebels and refuses to marry Joseph. Van returns from college, and in a drunken state tries to take advantage of Elena. Uncle Harvey rescues her and marries Elena himself. "The scarlet strain" turns out to be the sin of a second marriage.

Dir: Robert Z. Leonard

Living with her drunkard father in the North Woods mountains, Betty Yarnell is shunned by the villagers whenever she ventures out to pick up her father from Abner Grimp's saloon, and her only friend is a little lamb. In debt to Abner, John Yarnell signs a note turning over his daughter to Abner in return for unlimited drinks. When Abner goes to the cabin to claim Betty, revenue officer Ralph McGibbon arrives from the city and rescues her. Abner sends his Indian partner Dark Cloud, but Ralph rescues Betty again, although he is badly beaten up. Betty nurses Ralph, and even sacrifices her lamb to prepare broth for him. The sheriff decides to auction off Betty to the highest bidder. Abner demands that she be turned over to him, but Ralph fights him and manages to win Betty.