The Definitive Guide Deeply Connected to The Love That Lives: Cult ...

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 The Vanderhoff Affair perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Lester, returning from Mexico, becomes interested in Helen, a girl whose life he had saved. Helen, according to her uncle, Vanderhoff, is insane. Dr. Luchow, Lester's friend, confirms Vanderhoff's statement. Upon returning home, the author finds that the Vanderhoffs have rented the adjoining cottage. The writer sees Helen drop a note. Picking it up, he finds the paper blank. Lester's window faces Helen's window. That night, the girl informs him in pantomime that the note contains a message written in milk. Scorching brings the message into view. As the result, Lester learns that Helen is the victim of a foul plot on the part of her uncle who desires to obtain her fortune. The girl drops a notebook which contains the details. The author is thus informed that Vanderhoff, by keeping his niece drugged with a loco weed preparation, succeeds in fooling the physicians who examine her. Lester breaks into the Vanderhoff house the following morning. He is discovered by Jose, who knocks the author unconscious and places him in the room above the dining room. Vanderhoff hastens his preparations to place Helen in the insane asylum. Dr. Luchow calls for the purpose of preparing the papers. Lester, using the top of a ventilator, saws away at his bonds. The blood from his bruised hands drips down upon Luchow's paper and the doctor soon becomes aware of what is going on. Jose attacks Lester just as the latter gains his freedom, but Dr. Luchow's timely arrival saves his friend. The Mexican and Vanderhoff endeavor to make their get-away in an auto, but an explosion, which wrecks the machine, ends their villainous careers.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

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

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

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

Fifi is seen as Pierrot in a French play that is a failure despite her effort to put ginger into the rest of the cast. Among the few in the last audience was Cartouche, a veteran, who had become an actor when his wounds no longer allowed him to follow Napoleon. Through Cartouche's efforts Fifi is employed at the Imperial theater in Parts. He takes her to his lodging, determined to protect her. Fifi fails to understand how much Cartouche is doing for her, and when he gives her money to buy clothes she purchases a toy dog sailed Toto. The veteran buys a lottery ticket and gives it to Fifi. The ticket bears the winning number and Fifi finds herself in possession of a fortune. Cartouche decides Fifi must be educated. He applies to his old general, who suggests that Fifi be sent to the home of Louis Bourcet, an attorney who lives alone with his mother. Instead of putting her money in the bank Fifi hides it and startles the Bourcet family by her extravagance. They decide she has even more money than they thought and Louis begins to see in the wealthy Fifi a very acceptable wife. He makes love to the girl, and she accepts his proffer. Then she sets about to make him break the engagement by squandering her money, realizing she is in love with Cartouche. Accordingly she buys the most impossible things, scandalizing the Bourcet family into a complete renunciation by giving the remainder of her wealth to a charitable benefit for old soldiers. Ejected from the house by the angry Mme. Bourcet, Fifi returns to the Imperial, where she demands more money for her services because she has been publicly thanked by the General for her donation to charity. She tells Cartouche she loves him, but the old soldier refuses. to permit her to "throw herself away" upon him until Fifi gets an inspiration of her own.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

A Russian refugee who masquerades as Zara, niece of Francis Markrute, comes to his home and marries Lord Tancred, a scion of the English nobility, after a long series of misadventures she makes a full confession to her supposed uncle and to her husband regarding her origin and her young son by a former marriage to a Russian prefect of police, whom an infuriated mob murdered for his cruelty. Tancred is stunned, but only for a moment. Overwhelmed with forgiveness he avows his undying love.

Dir: Robert G. Vignola

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Fortunes of Fifi 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

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

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

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

Valerie St. Cyr, seizes a chance for excitement and money, deserts her infant daughter Joan and her impoverished husband and runs away to Paris with the Count Du Poissy. Years later, without knowing that they are mother and daughter, both Valerie and Joan fall in love with artist Julian St. Saens, who rejects the former but becomes engaged to the latter. Enraged, Valerie convinces the count to kidnap Joan, but after she is captured, Joan stabs the count to death. When Valerie learns that Joan is her daughter, she takes the blame for the murder and goes to the guillotine while Joan, still unaware that Valerie is her mother, makes plans with Julian for their marriage.

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.