The Auteur's Selection In the Shadow of The Great Divide: Cult Guide

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Stephen Browning, a minister in a small city, is unable to cope with the strong opposition in his parish, which is fostered and led by Raphael Creeke, his rival for the love of Irene Manton. Meanwhile, James, Stephen's brother, is released from prison after serving a term for borrowing money to lend to a friend's sick wife and child, and upon hearing of his brother's tribulations decides to act as the minister's substitute. After Stephen goes to a neighboring farm to recuperate from a nervous breakdown, James assumes his brother's identity, inspires the confidence of the congregation, discovers Creeke's conniving and wins Irene's love. With the help of a blackmailer, Creeke attempts to expose James's record, but his scheme backfires when the minister wins the support of his congregation by admitting his true identity. Stephen is murdered by Jacob Dreener, one of Creeke's accomplices, who mistakes the minister for his brother. James is then left to occupy his brother's shoes permanently, bringing Creeke to justice and winning Irene for his wife.

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Herbert Carey discharges the Dudley brothers, Joe and Jim, from their positions as overseers on his plantation and thereby incurs their enmity. War is declared and Carey, after bidding his wife and daughter Virgie farewell, joins the Southern forces, the Dudleys joining the Northern. The spring of '61 finds Carey the most dangerous and daring of Confederate scouts. The Dudleys are under the command of Colonel Morrison, a dashing, chivalrous young Northern officer. Grant closes in on Richmond and orders Morrison to capture Carey. Morrison takes a small detachment of troops, including Jim Dudley, and going to the Carey homestead, searches it. Dudley, seeing a chance for revenge, sets fire to the house, but in endeavoring to escape is shot and killed by Morrison, who has discovered his treachery. Penniless and with the house in ruins, Mrs. Carey and Virgie finally seek shelter in their former overseers' deserted cabin. Mrs. Carey sinks down and finally dies. Carey, hearing of this, gets to the cottage and assists Uncle Billy to bury her. Carey, wishing to remove Virgie to Richmond, receives a pass from Lee permitting Virgie and an escort to go through the Confederate lines. As he goes to the cottage to deliver the pass to Uncle Billy he is discovered and captured in it by Morrison. Carey tells him why he had come and Morrison's heart, being touched, he also gives Carey a pass through the Northern lines, telling him to take Virgie into Richmond himself. Joe Dudley discovers this and informs the Northern officer that Morrison has given a pass to Carey, the notorious scout, to pass through the Northern lines. Carey and Morrison are captured, court-martialed and sentenced to be shot. Little Virgie, hearing of this, goes to Grant and pleads with him to save her "Daddy." Carey is called before Grant and tells his story. Grant's heart is touched and he releases Carey telling him that though he cannot honor Morrison's pass, he can honor that of General Lee. Morrison is released also, and Carey and The Littlest Rebel. Virgie, are once more reunited. After the war finds Morrison, his wife and child, meeting Carey and Virgie over his wife's grave; the North and South join hands. The Confederate flag is seen meeting the Stars and Stripes; they flutter for a moment, then slowly intertwine and the picture fades away.

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

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Vladimir Krestovsky, a Russian peasant of unusual physical and mental prowess, hearkens to the call of America, and leaving his wife, Nataska, and his year-old baby, Olga, behind, makes the journey and secures work in the steel mills of Pittsburgh. From a position as a laborer, he finally works himself up to be one of the great financial factors of the world. His wife in Russia has not heard from him for many years and knows nothing of his success. He shortens his name of Krestovsky to that of Krest. Then commits bigamy by marrying the daughter of one of the social leaders in the country. In the meantime, over in Russia, his daughter, Olga, has grown to womanhood. She is wooed and won by Nicholas, a kindly young Russian peasant. Krest's American wife dies. His mind, as he sits by her bedside, takes him back to the Street of Forgotten Days when he bid Nataska good-bye. The voice of conscience preys upon him and he endeavors to seek diversion in art. He purchases the original of Hoffman's famous painting of "Christ and the Rich Young Man." Arriving in America, Nicholas and Olga secure work in one of Krest's mills in Pittsburgh. They live with Nataska in a miserable tenement house. A baby is born to Olga, and she, in her weakened condition, returns to work. One day she is severely injured. Nicholas sits beside his wife. He realizes that with her death will also come the death of their offspring. A peasant from another part of the tenement urges Nicholas to appeal to the "Big Boss" Krest himself. Nicholas determines to do so and starts out. In the meantime, Krest has arrived home. The painting has been hung, and he is puzzled as he studies the face of Christ; he wonders where he has seen it in real life. Without a storm has begun to gather, and far up on a distant hill, the stranger appears in a silhouette against the threatening sky. Slowly and peacefully he comes down into the house of Krest. To Krest's startled questions the Stranger replies that he is one who has come to show him the error of his ways. The Stranger takes Krest into the tenement house, shows him the living conditions of the people who work for him. Then the Stranger shows him into the home of Nicholas and shows him Olga and the baby both dead in bed. Then they go back to the home of Krest. On entering, Krest struck by the Stranger's manner and appearance, compares him to the figure of Christ in the painting, and the sub-conscious mind within him forces him to tell the Stranger that it seems he knew him in the long ago. Then the Stranger informs him that he did know him, and asks him if he cannot remember, centuries ago, and the scene goes back to Jerusalem. Krest is the reincarnation of the Rich Young Man, the Stranger is the same Christ, who, centuries ago, had urged the Rich Young Man to go sell all he had, give to the poor and to follow him, but the Rich Young Man could not think of giving up his immense wealth and had left Christ with the beggars. Then the scene comes back to Krest's library. Christ, for the Stranger is Christ, then tells the penitent Krest that, though he did not heed him then, to heed him now, and he tells him that perhaps he did not understand him then, that he did not mean for him to sell everything he possessed, but rather that he should take that which he did not actually need and use to benefit his fellowmen. The Stranger makes the sign of the cross, and disappears. In the meantime, Nicholas has been hastening to Krest's home. The storm breaks without and Krest awakens with a start. He crosses to the windows to shut them. Nicholas has arrived, but the butler refuses him admittance. The rain has drenched him and he stands there. Krest, who has crossed to shut the windows, peers at him. The sight of Nicholas, who looks so much like Christ, staggers Krest, who wonders if it has all been a dream, and watches Nicholas disappear into the storm. Realizing it is really a human being, he calls the butler and bids him bring Nicholas back. Krest questions him and then tells him that he is anxious to see conditions as they really are. He goes back with Nicholas to his home. On the way Krest secures a doctor to care for Olga, never suspecting that it is his own daughter and son-in-law whom he is benefiting. Arriving at the house, the doctor and Nicholas cross to the bedside of Olga, who, much to Krest's relief, is still alive and has a chance to recovering. Krest notes the terrible living quarters of the people, and determined to investigate farther. He starts into the kitchen, where he comes face to face with his wife. Without a word, Nataska crosses to his side, and he takes her into his arms, and so the rejuvenation of Vladimir Krestovsky takes place.

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Murice Brachard, a dock laborer, rises to be a "Samson" of finance with terrific power and a primordial ferocity, which he needs when his wife spurns his devotion, and people he trusts try to pull down the structure of wealth he has erected.

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

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Rosa is looked upon as an outcast, and is always in the shadow of her spoiled younger sister Rita.

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Montana cattleman Austin Brandt is jilted by Rosemary, who elopes with stranger Royce Greer, but he is consoled by his 20-year-old niece Joan. Rosemary later returns to Custer City to run a dance hall with her husband, who mistreats her. Eastern capitalist Robert Barton comes to town with his son Ford to settle a financial misunderstanding with Brandt. After reprimanding his son, Robert Barton is later found dead in his bed. Knowing of their financial argument, Ford believes Brandt is responsible, while Greer and his gang claim that Ford committed the murder. Convinced of his innocence, Ford asks Brandt to help him find the murderer. They discover that Barton was shot with a .38 caliber bullet, and Greer carries such a revolver. Meanwhile Greer's mob storms Brandt's house demanding Ford be taken prisoner. Brandt forces a confession from Greer, who is dragged away. After her husband's death, Rosemary departs and leaves a note explaining her love for Brandt. Joan and Ford find happiness together.

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

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Captain Gray, of the United States Army, detailed to quell the Indian uprising, is wounded. A courier is dispatched to Gray's home with the news. Mrs. Gray, about to become a mother, receives a violent shock at the recital of the details of her husband's injury by the courier. The child born at this inopportune time is Wallace Gray. The prenatal influence exercised over the child at the time of his mother being informed of her husband's injury marks him as a coward. The report of a shot or the sound of an explosion throws the lad into spasms of fear. He is sent to college and there forms a strong comradeship with Swiftwind, an Indian, sent by his tribe to be educated. Wallace also forms a strong attachment for Florence Dunbar, a ward of his father, who is now Colonel Gray. Swiftwind is made acquainted with the moral defect inherent in Wallace and pities and protects him whenever the lad is made the subject of the jeers of his friends because of his born defect. Swiftwind becomes a graduate physician and receives a commission as assistant army surgeon, detailed to Fort Terry, in command of Colonel Gray. His immediate superior is Dr. Sherwood, an unscrupulous man. Florence Dunbar and Wallace Gray, traveling in a stagecoach to Fort Terry, are attacked by Indians. Wallace, with a cringing fear, deserts his companion, who is saved only by the timely arrival of Dr. Sherwood and troops. Sherwood marries Florence, nothing more being heard of Wallace, who, however, enlists in another regiment under General Crook, deserts under fire, and ultimately surrenders himself to his father, in the hope that he will be condemned to death. The boy, however, is sentenced to the "pyramids." While working under "ball and chain" he hears that his father and a small band of Americans are hemmed in a canyon by Indians with no hope of relief. The latter, having observed the Northern Lights in the heavens, follow their belief that the "Lights" foretell victory in battle and start on a massacre. General Crook calls for a volunteer to pass through the Indian lines to deliver a message to Colonel Gray. Swiftwind volunteers, but being weak from exhaustion and privation, falls as he is about to commence his ride. Wallace begs for the opportunity to redeem himself, and mounting his horse, arrives with the message to the besieged band just as they are about to recognize a false flag of truce of the Indians. Sherwood attempts to kill his wife by substituting cholera germs in a bottle labeled morphine. He is injured, however, and Swiftwind, intending to alleviate Dr. Sherwood's suffering with morphine, inoculates him with the cholera germs, unwittingly putting an end to him. Wallace's redemption restores him to the affection of Florence, whom he marries.

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Poverty-stricken John Hargrave is forced to beg employment from rich mill owner Roger Winton in order to save his sick mother's life. Winton refuses to help, and when Hargrave's mother dies, he swears revenge. Eighteen years pass and Hargrave is now owner of a large paper mill, in competition with Winton. Hargrave and Winton's son, Roger Jr., are also rivals for the same woman, Irene Foster, who desires Winton's love but Hargrave's money. Winton, Sr., in an attempted takeover of Hargrave's stock, bribes labor agitators to create turmoil in Hargrave's plant. Hargrave discovers the plot, foils the scheme and discovers Irene's disloyalty. Although stricken with blindness because of the agitation in his life, Hargrave finds true love with his secretary, Margaret Carlisle. Once his sight is restored, he marries Margaret.

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

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Philip Morrow grows to manhood in the belief that the blood in his veins is the most aristocratic in the South. "Clif" Noyes, a distiller of whiskey of the fiery brand manufactured for consumption, persuades Morrow to run for Governor. Upon his election to the Governorship he decides to sign a Prohibition Bill which means the ruin of Noyes' business. Noyes visits Morrow. He has found papers proving that Morrow has blood in him. Morrow, undaunted, makes the Prohibition Bill a law, and resigns his office and sacrifices his love to devote his life to the uplift of the Negro.

Dir: Edgar Lewis

Dr. Robert Winston loses faith in himself and his religion when his own mother dies under his scalpel. Abandoning his profession, he moves to the Canadian Northwest, where he avoids companionship and drinks constantly. Despite Robert's atheism, he attracts the interest of Jeanette Mercier, the minister's daughter, and under her gentle influence, he is slowly regenerated. In the meantime, an Indian named Lone Deer bids a temporary farewell to his sweetheart Winona, whose father wishes to die among his own people, but when he finds her canoe overturned in the water, he assumes that she has drowned. Later Lone Deer saves Jeanette from Lou Baribeau, the brutal and lecherous company agent, but is seriously wounded in the struggle. Rev. Mercier convinces Robert to operate, and because the procedure proves successful, the doctor regains his faith and marries Jeanette. Winona finally returns to aid in Lone Deer's recovery.