The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of The Marriage Lie: Cult Guide

Dir: Stuart Paton

Episode 1: "The Oriental Death Punch" Alvin Van Cleft has a penchant for chorus girls, particularly Polly Marion. One night they leave a café and enter a taxi, closely watched by two muffled figures. As Van Cleft and the girl are riding through the park Van Cleft falls into a stupor, a mysterious hand which seems to have no attachment to a body, enters the cab and kills Van Cleft. Later Howard, his son, is notified by a mysterious voice that his father has been murdered and is the third victim, two others interested in chorus girls having preceded him. Howard notifies John Shirley, interested in criminology, and Professor Montague, a prominent physician, and they, together with Cronin, head of a detective agency, start working on the case. Shirley arrives at the conclusion that Van Cleft was murdered by the Japanese death punch, Sen Si Yao, as he is telling this to his friends he receives a telephone message that Cronin is in Bellevue Hospital with a crushed skull and that Montague may be the fourth victim. Shirley visits Cronin, who tells how he was beaten by two chaps who had been in the same taxi with him. Shirley then receives a message that he will be the next victim if he does not stop meddling in others' affairs. The professor, to the surprise of Howard, disguises himself and goes out the back way; as he jumps over the wall he is attacked by two thugs, whom he overpowers and marches to the police station.

Dir: Stuart Paton

Tommy Buckman, the ne'er-do-well son of dime store magnate John Buckman, is given one last chance to succeed by surveying a possible location in New England for the opening of another store in his father's chain. Arriving in the town of Winton, Tommy lands in jail and, disowned by his father, is bailed out by Nina Potter, whose father owns the only dime store in town. Tommy accepts a job as a delivery boy in the Potter store and soon rises to the post of general manager. When Buckman opens the store across the street, Tommy, now an adroit manager, corners the market. Old Buckman is sent for, and when he arrives to discover that his own son has beaten him in business, he consents to Tommy's marriage to Nina and withdraws his store from the town of Winton.

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

Dir: Stuart Paton

A French professor and his daughter accompany Captain Nemo on an adventure aboard a submarine.

Dir: Stuart Paton

Jim Brockton had three interests in life: His nephew, Donald: the Trinity, three friends of different nationalities, but united by their love for Jim; and a faithful dog named Lady. His affection for Donald, his nephew, was entirely misplaced, and that unworthy young man laughed at his uncle every time he got a check from him, and proceeded to spend it upon riotous living. Christmas came, and with it Donald, who immediately proceeded to call his club friends around him and have a good time. Jim naturally was hurt, but excused Donald on the ground that youth seeks youth. But when he discovered his nephew and a group of his friends bear-baiting a poor beggar even his faith got a shock, but he took the derelict home and into his household and his heart. The next day the three friends introduced Jim to Mary, an admirable woman, and a year from that date saw them married. When Donald came home for Christmas a situation arose which was fraught with great danger, for Donald had previously been engaged to Mary, and had been low enough to permit an action of his toward her to be sadly misconstrued, destroying her reputation. In an endeavor to compromise her again the ingrate brought about two events which came near to wrecking Donald's life, but the old derelict saved the situation and exposed Donald for what he was.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Stuart Paton

Antiques collector Bradley West agrees to adopt Little Marie, a French war orphan, to please his wife. Marie and a servant's son, George Washington Jones, Jr., irritate Bradley with their mischief until he hires Hulda, a governess who objects to Marie's friendship with a Black child. Marie attempts to placate Hulda by whitewashing George, then presents him at a tea party and shocks the guests. Bradley's nephew and secretary, Trent Gordon, befriends Marie and she assists him in overcoming difficulties with his girlfriend, Phyllis Dare. Unbeknown to the West family, Hulda, alias "Chicago Hattie," is in league with a gang of thieves led by Raymond Brownleigh, intent on robbing Bradley's safe. On the night of the burglary, the noise awakens Marie and she locks Brownleigh in the safe. Before the thief can make his escape, Trent captures the entire gang. Marie's courage and resourcefulness win her the love of her foster father.

Dir: Stuart Paton

Lois Fox, upon whose shoulder is branded a Chinese ideograph resembling the letters "A. Y.," is rescued from a gang of Chinese ruffians by Brice Ferris. His servant Ming, in attempting to steal from her finger a ring that bears a mysterious green seal, is killed, and soon afterwards a stranger named Strang arrives, also in search of the girl. Despite Brice's efforts to protect her, Lois is abducted and taken to the headquarters of Lao Wing, the leader of a secret Chinese society known as the Tong. Ferris and chief of police Struber finally infiltrate the gang's headquarters and after a furious battle, Lois and Strang are freed. Strang, actually Lois' uncle, reveals that the sacred ring had belonged to an ancient Chinese order but had been stolen by Lois' father.

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

Dir: Stuart Paton

John Hardy, a ranch owner, marries Cleo Dade, not realizing she belongs to a gang planning to use the ranch as headquarters for Mock Sing's opium smuggling operations. When Hardy suddenly disappears, Cleo takes charge of the ranch, usurping the place of Hardy's daughter, Rose. Suspecting her father is still alive, Rose visits Mock Sing's cabin. John Smith, a card dealer for Mock Sing who is attracted to Rose, saves her from Mock Sing's assault and frees Hardy, who has been held prisoner. Soon after, Hardy's ranch hands attack and kill Mock Sing, Cleo is revealed as the wife of gang member "Square Deal" Dixon, and the ranch is restored to Hardy. John Smith, actually a government agent sent to curb opium trafficking on the border, marries Rose.

Dir: Stuart Paton

Whiskey smuggler Dubec, trades liquor to the Indians, takes revenge on the Royal North West Mounted Police pursuing him by killing the wife of post commander Sergeant Delisle and abducting his teen-aged daughter Nonette. After twelve years of futile searches, the eighteenth birthday celebration of Delisle's other daughter Julie is disrupted when Sergeant MacNair arrives to replace Delisle because Delisle cannot control the lawlessness in the camp. MacNair falls in love with Julie though she scorns him. When Dubec and Nonette, now his wife, return from the Klondike with a dance hall troupe of women, Delisle, not recognizing Dubec but resenting his flirtations with Julie, orders them to leave. Dubec captures Julie and MacNair, forcing Julie to dance, and offers her to the highest bidder. MacNair saves her just as Delisle, warned by Nonette of Dubec, arrives. Nonette is reunited with her father, and MacNair and Julie, now in love, embrace.

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

Dir: Stuart Paton

Andrea Minghetti runs a California vineyard with the help of his pretty niece Bona, who cooks for the employees. A worker named Chico Piave, who belongs to a secret crime society, tries unsuccessfully to force himself on Bona, and later, he demands that Andrea give him both the young woman and a large sum in cash. Meanwhile, the wealthy Frank Harris accepts a job at the vineyard on a dare and is so impressed with Bona's cooking that he offers her a position in his mother's kitchen. Mrs. Harris treats Bona cruelly until word comes that Bona has inherited a fortune from Andrea, who has disappeared in her absence. Mrs. Harris' sudden kindness dismays Bona, who returns home and informs the police of Chico's earlier threats. Chico is arrested, but Andrea, who merely hid to escape the criminal, returns to the vineyard, as does Frank, who declares his love for Bona.

Dir: Stuart Paton

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.