Rare Cinematic Gems Sharing the Atmosphere of The Perfect Tribute: ...

Dir: Edward Sloman

In the parched West, Louise MacLeod works as a secretary for Robert Powell, a lawyer defending businessman John Phelan, whom ranchers accuse of monopolizing water rights. Gordon, Louise's father, is one of the ranchers, and so Louise keeps him informed of Robert's strategy, with the result that the ranchers win their case. John, however, remains determined to control the area's water, and so he hires an engineer to dynamite a river in order to divert it from the ranchers and onto his own land. Robert then realizes the unscrupulousness of his former client, and defuses the engineer's bomb. Afterward, with the ranchers victorious, Robert concentrates less on water rights and more on Louise, with whom he soon begins a romance.

Dir: Edward Sloman

Gerard Hale and Luther Snaith, partners in the same law firm, are rivals for a seat vacant in the Senate as well as for the hand of the governor's daughter Marion. When Tom Shores, recently released from prison, turns up at the law office with his sister Mary and her two-year-old baby, the illegitimate child of Gerard's late father, Gerard Hale, Sr., Snaith sees the opportunity to win both the Senate seat and Marion. Gerard meets with Mary and learns that the child is the offspring of his father. Overcome with his father's dereliction, Gerard gives Mary a check for $50,000. As Mary and Tom leave, they are seized by detectives who bring them back to the office for identification. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hale and Marion have stopped in to visit and Gerard, afraid that the truth will prove fatal to his mother's ailing heart, testifies that the baby is his. Upset over the revelation, Mrs. Hale is confined to bed and Snaith threatens to expose the truth unless Gerard withdraws from the Senate race. Sensing that death is approaching, Mrs. Hale asks Gerard to do his duty and wed Mary. Mary insists upon telling her the truth, but Gerard refuses, fearing that it would prove fatal to his mother, but Gerard is spared from the sacrifice when his mother dies, freeing him from the shackles of truth.

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

Dir: Edward Sloman

Millionaire Jack Woodford, who loves a good mystery, seizes an opportunity to play Sherlock Holmes when he overhears pretty Alice Moreland, the daughter of Rev. Robert Moreland, discussing a jewel robbery in her home. Posing as detectives, Jack and his valet, Jasper Stride, visit the reverend's home, where Jack's suspicions are aroused first by Moreland's secretary, Harvey Faxon, and then by Alice's brother Harry. During the night, however, he sees Alice herself take a set of jewels from the safe, but when he tries to retrieve them from her room, Faxon enters and accuses him of robbery. He is imprisoned in the basement but soon escapes, and that night, he again sees Alice carrying jewels. As Jack approaches, he realizes that Alice is sleepwalking and that Faxon is waiting to take the jewels from her when she reaches her room. Jack and Stride capture Faxon, and Alice demonstrates her gratitude to the amateur sleuth by confessing that she loves him.

Dir: Edward Sloman

Having overslept on the morning of his wedding, James Page is rushing to the home of his bride, Marah Manning, when he sees Jed Baldwin being attacked. He goes to Jed's rescue and is arrested for his efforts. After being released, James discovers that Marah has called off the wedding; to console himself he ventures West with Baldwin. His troubles just begin when he arrives in Arizona and, mistaken for outlaw Pete Rawley, is thrown in jail. Meanwhile, the real Rawley holds up Marah and her father, who are searching for James and takes the two to his mountain retreat, where they believe that James is their captor. Then Pete's sweetheart Phoebe helps James escape, believing that he is Pete, and takes him to the mountain retreat where they find the real Rawley. After the couples straighten themselves out, Pete and Phoebe escape across the border and Marah forgives James.

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

Dir: Edward Sloman

To maintain order aboard the Southern Cross, Bull Dorgan, its fierce captain, beats Pedro, a trouble-making sailor, who swears revenge as he steers the boat toward the wild Barbary Coast. While on shore, Bull hears the cries of Emily Gordon coming from a saloon, rescues her from the owner, and drags her and Hugh, a minister, to his departing ship. Bull refuses to believe that Emily came to the cabaret to visit a dying friend, but overcome with desire for her, he forces Hugh to marry them. Nine months later Emily gives birth, but Pedro, still bent on revenge, insinuates that the baby actually belongs to Hugh. When Bull goes to confront Emily with this accusation, he finds her in a compromising position with the minister. Taking advantage of Bull's confusion, Pedro foments a mutiny, but Bull and a devoted shipmate defeat the traitors. Eager to compensate Emily for her hardship, Bull allows her to return to land, but seeing his love for their child, she chooses to remain with the sea master.

Dir: Edward Sloman

Young Jeffrey Claiborne, the son of a wealthy father, comes to the aid of pretty Betty Jane Moir, who is being bothered by a lecherous chauffeur. He accepts Betty's grateful offer of employment in her mother's taxi company. Smitten, Jeffrey proposes to her, but her mother, not knowing who he really is, dismisses him as not worthy of being her daughter's husband. Determined to prove his worth, he gets his chance when he discovers that Betty's mother is being blackmailed by a criminal gang.

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

Dir: Edward Sloman

Wealthy banker John Sevier is engaged to Elaine Morier, who runs an upscale gambling club with her father Gerald. One night at the club John stops a fight between club employee Jim Hammond and a wealthy young customer named Tom Leonard. He takes Leonard home and meets his sister Marion. The next day he discovers that his banking partner, Jim Collins, has made too many bad investments with the bank's money and the institution is in danger of going under. John promises to use his own money to save the bank, but Elaine, outraged, breaks off their engagement. However, Marion and Tom congratulate him on his courage in putting up his own money to save the bank. Elaine and her father--who were scheming to take John for his money all along--realize that they made a mistake and try to get the two back together again. Complications ensue.

Dir: Edward Sloman

Bob Stephany, "The Twinkler," is completing a long stretch in prison. He has saved the life of Old Doc, in charge of the dynamo room, and the old man promises to repay Bob, should the opportunity present itself, Bob's fiancée, Rose Burke, whose father, Daddy Burke, has a prison record, comes to visit Bob. She tells him she has but one dream, and that comes to her every night. She pictures Bob in a responsible position, and their living in a vine-clad cottage. Bob is won over by the idea and promises to go "straight." Freed from prison, "The Twinkler" sets about to get honest work. A crooked detective discovers him and he is forced to submit to blackmail rather than lose his job. The chief, Boss Corregan, meets Rose and makes advances to her. At the Political Ball he annoys the girl and Bob comes to her rescue. Daddy Burke, Rose and Bob disappear. The next day Corregan tells Bob to send for Rose to come to his office because he wishes to apologize to her. Bob suspects that Corregan has designs on Rose and tells her to bring his revolver with her. Corregan has Bob jailed on a false charge, and when Rose comes to his office she is greeted by Boss, who takes her into his arms. In the struggle which ensues. Rose fires Bob's revolver and Daddy, who is at the window, also fires a shot and runs away. The police arrive at the scene and find Corregan dead and Rose in a faint. Rose is held for the murder and Bob is released. He is unable to find Daddy and resorts to stealing to secure the money to fight for Rose's freedom. However, Rose is sentenced to execution. On the day before Rose's scheduled execution Bob meets Daddy Burke. The old man has been seriously injured and when told of Rose's predicament confesses that he was responsible for the fatal shot. Bob hurries to the Governor with Daddy's signed statement. The Governor sends his secretary to the prison with a pardon for Rose. Bob boards a train tor the prison city. A fearful storm comes up and all telegraph and telephone communication is cut off. Bob sees a well-groomed man displaying a wallet and he cannot resist the temptation to steal it. He escapes from the train and finds his way to a deserted cabin. Here he opens the wallet and to his horror discovers that he has robbed the Governor's secretary and has Rose's pardon in his possession. Realizing that all communication is cut off, Bob hurries to a nearby town. Here he sees a train and boards it. He arrives at the prison an hour after the time set for Rose's electrocution. There he learns that Old Doc, who has learned of "The Rose's" identity, has been the means of saving her life. He had placed a file in the dynamo and when the switch was turned on, the armature had burned out and it was necessary to send to another town for a new one. "The Twinkler" makes a clean breast of his guilt and produces Rose's pardon. The prison officials agree to forget the incident and set both Bob and Rose free. Old Doc smilingly watches them go.

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

Dir: Edward Sloman

A gray-gowned woman at a masked ball entices wealthy society man Philip Greycourt, who is bored with easy conquests, to a hotel, then leaves without unmasking. Later, Philip visits the country home of John Villiers with a friend, and although Philip thinks that Villiers' second wife Helen, who flirts with him, is the masked woman, she denies having met him earlier. Helen's stepdaughter Catherine falls in love with Philip, but he scarcely notices her. When Villiers leaves for town one evening, Helen invites Philip to her sitting room and admits that she was the masked woman. Villiers returns unexpectedly, and seeing shadows of figures in a window embracing, he runs inside. The maid warns Helen, and Philip enters another room, where Catherine lies in bed. As Villiers pounds on the door, Catherine accepts Philip's proposal. They marry the next day; later, after Villiers dies, Helen attempts to seduce Philip, and jealously tells Catherine, whom Philip now loves, of their past. When Philip learns that Catherine has left to board a steamer, he follows, and they enjoy a honeymoon cruise.

Dir: Edward Sloman

For advice on making money, down-on-her-luck Margery Smith visits Franklyn Smith, a lawyer who, although he appears prosperous, is equally hard-pressed for funds. Franklyn is struck by Margery's beauty and devises a plan whereby her services as a chaperoned partner at dances and teas may be purchased; however, because he believes her brainless, he forbids her to speak with the customers. The "Beauty to Let" corporation is a success, and soon two millionaires, Henry P. Rockwell and "Diamond Tim" Moody, ask to marry Margery. She has fallen in love with Franklyn and is distressed to learn that he has purchased bachelor's quarters from Tim. Diamond Tim forged the deed to the house, but when Margery sneaks into his room to retrieve Franklyn's money, her partner sees her and misconstrues her intentions. In the end, Margery and Franklyn outwit Tim, and Franklyn, realizing that his partner is bright as well as beautiful, proposes.