Curated Recommendations Seeking the Same Brilliance as The Knife: C...

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

Young Frank Stratton, the scion of a wealthy family who is temporarily short of funds, has borrowed a valuable bracelet and hasn't returned it to its owner. A crooked detective, Jim Foley, finds the bracelet in Stratton's possession and promises not to arrest him for it in return for Stratton signing a confession that he stole it, which Foley intends to use at a future date. Years pass and a political boss in danger of losing an election asks Foley's help in getting valuable papers from his opponent, Worthington Lawrence. Foley knows that Lawrence is a friend of Stratton and tells Stratton that unless he steals those papers Foley will make his signed confession public. Complications ensue.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

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

The children of a a novelist, Nicholas, contract scarlet fever. His wife Anne stays in the house to take care of them, but the house is quarantined by the authorities and Nicholas, not being allowed in the house, takes a room in town until the quarantine is lifted. Lonely, he begins to feel attracted to his illustrator, Esmee. They begin an affair, but soon Nicholas finds that Esmee's expensive tastes are driving him to bankruptcy. His wife finds out about the affair, and devises a plan to teach her husband a lesson and get his mistress out of the picture at the same time.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

Seventeen-year-old William Sylvanus Baxter has fallen madly in love with young coquette Lola Pratt. After he has spent all his money on the fickle girl, she runs off with an older man. Now heartbroken, William contemplates suicide until May Parcher, a friend from childhood, visits him and decides to fall in love with him.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

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

A professional burglar has taught his daughter the tricks of his trade, and she learned well. She's proud of her "career", but one day an unidentified man saves her from drowning, and the close call makes her think about changing her life. However, her father has a big heist he wants her to help him with: stealing a string of valuable pearls that an important politician is going to give to his fiancée. She reluctantly decides to help her father with the burglary, but an unexpected turn of events could result in her going to prison for something she didn't do.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

Society debutante Vivian Tyler is engaged to marry Count Belloto, then meets Dr. Robert Keith, whose work in uplifting the poor has attracted wide attention, she is strongly attracted to him and asks permission to work in his sanitarium, where the poor of the city receive treatment free of charge. There she meets Aggie May, a woman arrested as a streetwalker, and because she wears a locket bearing Dr. Keith's picture, Vivian assumes that the doctor has been responsible for the woman's downfall. Later, Aggie kills herself, and although Vivian witnesses the act, to avoid a scandal she hurries away before the police come. Dr. Keith is arrested for Aggie's death, the locket providing evidence of guilt. Just as he is to be convicted, Vivian rushes into the courtroom and gives the testimony that clears the doctor.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Girl Who Came Back perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

When rich civil engineer Robert Penfield goes to a small Quaker town in Pennsylvania to supervise a job, he meets Patience, who soon falls in love with him, but Robert is engaged to Edith, who plans to marry him for his money only. To remain close to Robert, Patience returns with him to the city to take a job as his mother's secretary. After Robert and Edith's wedding, and following the birth of their child, Patience takes care of the baby much more enthusiastically than Edith does; in fact, Edith is preoccupied with Paul Dunstan, a former suitor who wasn't rich enough to marry her, but who has since inherited a fortune. Finally, the couple elope, but they both die when Paul's yacht sinks. After the accident, Robert realizes that he loves Patience, and marries her.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

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

One moment before she dies, the aged, philanthropic, and universally respected Duchess of Maldon sees her life flash before her. As Madge, a young gypsy woman, two men fight for her, after which the winner, John, forces her to marry him. Then Madge deserts John and begins a romance in England with Harold, the youngest son of the Duke of Maldon. Soon, however, Harold fights with his older brother, who has criticized the affair with a married woman, and, believing that he has killed his brother, Harold leaves Madge behind and smuggles himself out of the country. Years later, Harold, who has found out that his brother did not die, meets Madge once again, and, determined not to let him leave her a second time, Madge kills John so that she and Harold can marry. Successfully covering up past scandals, Madge and Harold begin a life so sedate and distinguished that they quickly become England's model couple.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

At her godmother's place in Paris, Ethel Cartwright meets dashing Stephen Denby but is reluctant to reciprocate her interest in her because he seems to be idle. Denby is actually a jewel smuggler and sells a $200,000 pearl necklace. Upon her arrival in New York, Ethel notices that her necklace is gone and claims her insurance money. The insurance company inspector finds Ethel's sister's behavior very peculiar and has her investigated by customs inspector Taylor; she soon reveals that she is the thief. Taylor tells Ethel he can forget the whole story if she helps him frame Denby. Ethel agrees and does it. As he is about to be taken to jail, Denby offers Taylor $30,000 to release him. Taylor accepts. Denby reveals himself a secret service agent in charge of catching a customs inspector who has been dealing illegally with smugglers for three years: Taylor. Ethel eventually marries Denby.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

After their wedding, Richard Vaughan and his wife Courtney take up residence in Richard's ancestral home. Courtney, despised by Nanny, the old housekeeper, and neglected by her husband, who buries himself in his chemical experiments, leads a lonely life. Consequently, when experimental chemist Basil Gallatin pays a lengthy visit to the Vaughan home, Courtney finds herself attracted to him. One day, during Richard's absence, a burglar alarm places Courtney and Gallatin in a compromising situation. Witnessing their embrace, Nanny is struck speechless, but when Richard returns she recovers her speech and gives damning evidence against Courtney. Gallatin flees, and Richard, realizing his culpability, gives his wife a divorce. Having read of the divorce, Gallatin returns and Courtney admonishes Richard to kill them both. Richard frightens Gallatin away with the threat of exploding one of his compounds, but Courtney defies death and remains. A reconciliation between husband and wife then follows.