Curated Recommendations Seeking the Same Brilliance as The Inside o...

Dir: Albert Capellani

Based on Robert W. Chambers' novel about New York CIty life among the upper crust: Artist/model and philosopher Valerie West undergoes much sorrow and joy,many trials and tribulations ,and final triumph on her journey to become the living personification of sweet, noble womanhood.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Bernard Jansoulet, a fine specimen of the sons of Vulcan, kept the little farmstead of the Jansoulets by means of the profits from his smithy. His aged mother, a dear old lady, and a good-for-nothing brother, Louis, were the other members of the household. One day as Bernard passed along the little village, he saw poor, wayward Louis being exhorted to join a bibulous crowd at the inn. Bernard, himself of a temperate disposition, at once interposed, and soon led his brother towards home. There a good meal, served in true French farmhouse style, soon mollified the erring Louis, and during a chat there came the postman on his usual round. The missive, in an unusual writing, proved to be a letter saying that a friend had secured a situation in Paris for Louis. The answer was sent, and a few days later preparations were made for Louis' departure this, however, Bernard, in his usual quiet manner, negotiated a loan of 200 francs from a neighbor, and as Louis was on the point of going pressed upon him the little fortune to help him along his way. Full of seeming gratitude and with the kisses of his sorrowing mother still fresh upon his lips, Louis departed, with a promise to redeem the past in a new life. Life in Paris proved a vastly different thing to what Louis had expected ; but having succeeded to some extent by dint of resolution, he soon found time to look around and visit the many show places of the "gay capital." One evening, at a ball in the Montmartre district, he succumbed to the advances of a lady of somewhat doubtful morals, and eventually became the object of a quarrel between the woman and another, who had also been in his company. Filled with rage and pique at the slight which followed, the adventuress trumped up a charge of theft against Louis. The Public Prosecutor made short work of Louis' defense, and a letter, addressed to Bernard, bore the following words : - " My dear Bernard,- I have been fool enough to get mixed up with a woman, who, in a fit of jealousy, has accused me of stealing her jewels, and, as I cannot prove my innocence, I have been condemned to five years' imprisonment. Don't tell mother; it would kill her. - Louis Jansoulet." Bernard from that day went about his work in a dazed way. After the thought of Louis' error he could not settle, and, finally, leaving his mother sufficient for her needs for some time, he set out for a life in South Africa. On the way, at Marseilles, he met one Bompain, who, also in need of a friend, arranged to take him to a ship he knew of. An introduction to the captain secured berths for both as firemen. In the hot and grimy depths of the stokehold, they toiled for the next five weeks, and were pleased indeed to end the period of servitude, and set foot on new soil. After some weeks of search they drifted to the diamond mines, and entered once more upon a period of toil, compared to which the previous task was child's play. Bernard, ever of a strong and lusty way, could dig all day and hew the hard quartz without a murmur, but little Bompain, although a willing worker, soon found the work a severe trial. He was practically at the end of his powers of endurance, when Bernard made a staggering discovery. Within half-an-hour the news had spread all over the mine. The Frenchman, Jansoulet, had made the discovery of the age. Such a diamond had never before been gazed upon, and Jansoulet had suddenly become one of the world's richest men. Some months later Bernard sat in his palatial house in Paris, Bompain at his elbow as major-domo, and dreamed of his desires to conquer the entire city. His mother still preferred the old country life, and he was free to scheme and to gain his ambitions. Knowing his ways, one Moessac, the editor of The Messenger, soon fixed upon him as the one man to turn the tide of lii-fortune from his publishing house. A ball was arranged, on Moessac's suggestion, at Bernard's house, and here Felicia Ruys was introduced to him. Bernard, now named the Nabob, bestowed gifts with great prodigality, and Felicia was soon destined to come in for a share of his attentions. A scheme, evolved by Moessac and fostered by Bernard's growing love for the beautiful sculptress, was set on foot to secure for Bernard the office of Deputy for Corsica. The price of the honor was to be £4,000, to be paid to Moessac. Needless to say, the election proved an easy win for Jansoulet. He was soon able to dispatch a letter informing his mother of his success. He was not destined to live long, however, in his fool's paradise, for during a visit to Felicia's studio he overheard a conversation which showed that she was really in league with Moessac. In consequence of Bernard's denunciation. the rascally editor decided upon vengeance, and published a paragraph to the effect that " a grave political scandal is afoot. The member for Corsica, we are informed, has served a term of imprisonment for theft." Bernard arrived one day at the Chamber to find his alleged crime the one topic of conversation. He, having seen The Messenger, came prepared with the evidence of Louis' letter, and awaited the Chamber's action. The motion came on, and soon the House was intent upon the discussion of their comrade's transgression. At last Bernard was called upon to mount the dais and defend himself. As he commenced, his mother, who had come to congratulate her son, entered the visitors' gallery. She heard, in a dramatic scene, her son's denial of the base charge and his splendid speech. He was about to produce the letter which would fasten the guilt upon Louis, when he saw his mother's face. An instant's thought, and the letter was torn to fragments. Puzzled by his silence from this point, the majority pronounced him guilty. In the entrance-hall mother and son met, and as they left the Deputies began to realize that some reason obtained for the strange result of Bernard's actions. Moessac was shunned by all who knew him, and, disgusted with Paris and its superficial life, Bernard returned to the farm. Here, one evening, came Louis, footsore and starving. With true fraternal charity, he was taken in and succored, and once more the trio led their former plain and unassuming life as of old.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

The Archduke Rodolphe d'Illyrie is secretly united to Countess Sarah Mac Gregor and they have a daughter together. The young woman learns that her father-in-law is potting to have the marriage annulled so she writes her brother to ask him to get rid of the old man. When her letter is intercepted, she leaves her child in the care of farmers near Paris and escapes to America. The Archduke finds the whereabouts of his daughter but he finds the house has been destroyed by a criminal fire and figures that she died. He sets out to find his daughter's murderers and meets the evil Schoolmaster and his friend la Chouette. They actually hide the child, that they call Fleur de Marie, and force her to beg for their profit.

Dir: Albert Capellani

When young schoolteacher Mary Adams is out of the classroom, she dreams of the days when the world was peopled by knights and beautiful ladies in distress. She is so imbued with the spirit of romance that when a strange young man rescues her from a street ruffian, she idolizes her hero, picturing him as a regular Sir Galahad. Mary's rescuer is Jim Anthony, a mechanic with inventive talents. Embittered after his invention is stolen, he becomes a burglar. Knowing nothing of this, Mary falls in love with him and marries him. He's a product of the slums, and in his wandering he has lost track of his mother. When he finally learns that she's living in the Carolina mountains, he persuades Mary to go with him to visit her. He takes with him a bag of jewelry, the plunder gained in his recent robberies. They find Anthony's mother living alone in a hut. The old woman has become a wretched creature. She fails to recognize her son, who asks for a night's shelter for himself and his wife. While unpacking, Mary discovers the jewelry and confronts Jim, who confesses his crime. Horrified, Mary orders Jim from the room, locks herself in, and goes to sleep on a couch in the main room. The old woman finds the jewels and her cupidity leads her to try to kill the man she doesn't know as her son. Mary finds Jim unconscious from his wound and hurries to the village for medical aid. She keeps away from him, and on his recovery he returns to the city and makes restitution of the stolen property. A reconciliation is brought about several years later.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Mildred White becomes romantically involved with both Derwent Ainsworth and Dr. Mario Martinez while in Paris. She prefers Derwent, but when he leaves suddenly to see his dying father, Mario convinces Mildred that he has deserted her. When World War I begins, Derwent returns for Mildred, but upon learning that she is leaving Paris with Mario, he enlists in the army. Mildred discovers Mario's initial deception and joins the Red Cross to be near Derwent, who is blinded in battle and then tended to by Mildred. Unaware of the true identity of his nurse, Derwent falls in love with her, and the two are soon married. Mildred then prevails upon Mario to perform a special operation on Derwent's eyes. His vision restored, Derwent realizes that Mildred has returned to him, while Mario, after helping his former rival, dies in battle.

Dir: Albert Capellani

A crook bungles his biggest job, and when the police are put on his trail, he becomes hopelessly lost and commits suicide.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Lily Bart loves Lawrence Selden, a lawyer of moderate means, but she is also pursued by Simon Rosedale, a wealthy businessman, and Augustus Trenor-Dorset, a married man. When Dorset's wife Bertha announces that she is going to the country (although she really plans to meet Ned Silverton, with whom she is having an affair), Dorset asks Lily to dine at his home. Alone with him at the house, she rejects his advances, but when Mrs. Dorset returns, she publicly insults Lily, forcing her to move to another town. Lily's aunt dies and leaves her penniless, whereupon she reluctantly begins to seek employment. She is about to kill herself when Selden, who has never stopped loving her, enters the room and convinces her to marry him.

Dir: Albert Capellani

Paul Capellani, the famous star, plays the part of "Karloo." which gives him a chance to show his remarkable ability. This is a picturization of the play "Patrie," written by Victorien Sardou, the famous French dramatist. The author was noted for being a master of stage effect, and the film follows closely the stage production. "Pro Patria" deals with the efforts of the people of the Netherlands to throw off the iron rule of Spain, and the plots and intrigues which were perpetrated at that time. It was staged in Louvain, Belgium, that beautiful city which has since been ruined beyond redemption by German shells. The costuming, arms, customs and properties are absolutely accurate, and the whole production is most lavish. The acting is truly great and the entire six reels grip from start to finish.

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

Dir: Albert Capellani

Jean Valjean, guilty of a minor theft of food, is pursued and hounded for years by a relentless lawman, Javert.

Dir: Albert Capellani

The scene takes place in Paris in March 1793 during the Reign of Terror. The Knight of Maison-Rouge, posing as Citizen Morand, is organizing the escape of Queen Marie-Antoinette. He is assisted in his undertaking by Dixmer, a master tanner who passes himself off as an ardent revolutionary and his wife Geneviève, who also happens to be the Knight's sister. While on mission with her brother, she is saved from arrest thanks to the intervention of Lieutenant Maurice Lindey. Geneviève, who is married without love to Dixmer, falls for the young man, who requites her love. A tunnel is dug between a house rented by Dixmer and the Tower of the Temple but the various attempts to rescue the queen attempts fail. Marie-Antoinette risks the guillotine. Lindey finds himself involved in the plot.