The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of The Plunger: Cult Guide

Dir: Dell Henderson

Alice Avery, the orphaned daughter of an actress, is raised to adulthood in a small town by her strict Aunt Jane and Uncle Ezra. When artist Richard Danforth comes to town to rest, Alice falls in love with him. When he leaves, he promises that if Alice comes to New York he will care for her, so Alice decides to follow him there over the objections of her aunt and uncle, who want her to marry a local boy. In New York, Richard is surprised by her appearance and sends for Sarah, Alice's childhood guardian, to look after her. Nancy Arnold, one of Richard's models, is in love with him and jealous of Alice, and Alice is jealous of her. When Alice interrupts a quarrel between Richard and Nancy over her, she decides to run away and get a job on the stage. She becomes a famous actress and eventually is found by Richard, who realizes that he is in love with her. She then gives up the stage to become his wife.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

The spoiled, somewhat "mama's boy" young son of a railroad magnate and the pretty young daughter of the magnate's partner set out to stop their respective fathers' incessant quarreling. In the process, they realize that they are falling in love with each other.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Among the younger members of the select families of the "Avenue," are Pete Milholland, a "good fellow" and sportsman, and his fiancée, Alice Gardner. Only once have they quarreled, that was when Pete disgraced himself by coming upon the polo fields intoxicated. This was good cause, and we now find Peter staring blankly ahead of him with the returned ring in his hand. Still in a stupor from drink, Pete instructs his butler that he is leaving for Europe and staggers out of the house. He finds himself on the shores at Coney Island, in a garb not his own. During his wanderings in the amusement park, Pete comes before the entrance of the "Turkish Dream." Partially attracted by the pretty dancer and chiefly in need of sleep, he smuggles himself into the place. He has come at the psychological moment, for the proprietor, Mooney, and his daughter, Tessie, the dancer, are in a quandary. Their orchestra, the pianist, has left them. Pete steps into the breach, much to the jealousy of Jan, the boatman, Tessie's ardent lover. As time passes Pete decides to return home, taking with him Tessie and her father. The jovial Irishman and his daughter dislike the idea of leaving their "kind," but with the arrival of the automobile they agree to go. Tessie is taken care of by Pete's aunt, who would rather do most anything than come in contact with the belle of Coney Island. Her arrival causes consternation in society circles and it is realized by Pete that she is not suitable for him, but he is determined to marry her, as Alice, according to the papers, is going to become the wife of his friend, Tony Graves. During her stay at the Milholland mansion Tessie notices how Pete controls his feelings when Alice approaches, and how Alice's heart nearly breaks when the two girls meet. Alice and Pete finally come face to face, and Pete learns that the newspaper report of Alice's marriage to Tony was false. He takes her in his arms, and thus they are discovered by Tessie. Summoning all her strength and forcing a smile upon her face, Tessie tells them that she lied and does not love Pete at all, and returns her ring. Pete is overcome to think that he was on the verge of falling into the trap set by this young "vampire," while Alice is overjoyed at the unexpected turn of events, though secretly feeling that Tessie is making a great sacrifice. After Tessie's return to her kingdom on the beach, "The Turkish Dream," true love steals its way into her heart as it had done to Alice and Pete, and soon Jan proves to be her ideal of a husband.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Lucille Vale is in love with struggling architect Paul Arden, but her mother believes that Allen Granat is a more suitable match. Lucille's mother prevails, and Lucille leaves Paul a note in their secret hiding place saying that she is going to marry Allen. Paul is injured when thrown from a horse and does not receive the note. He is nursed back to health in the home of entomologist Thomas Wiggan, whose son Johnnie is in love with Marion Vale, Lucille's younger sister. Two years later, Lucille and Allen return to the estate, very much in love, and engage Paul's services. The note is found, still waiting in the secret hiding place. After many complications, and with the help of her friend Suzanne Russell, Lucille recovers the possibly incriminating note.

Dir: Edward LeSaint

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Traveling under the name "Charles Conant," the son of an American mine owner tries to enter England in 1916 after masquerading as a muleteer, but the captain of his ship, suspicious when he sees him looking through a spyglass, plans to take him back to the United States. Charles escapes and visits his relative, Lady Dartridge, and falls in love with her daughter, Lady Joan Templar, who is loved by her cousin, chief constable George Templar who, suspicious of Charles' manner and unexplainable meetings and activities, wants to arrest him as a spy. After Charles handcuffs two German agents, he reveals that he is a secret-service man. Earlier, he mistakenly sold titanium from his father's mine to a German agent. His successful mission recovered the titanium before it went to Germany aboard a U-boat. Promising to wed Lady Joan, Charles leaves to join the Lafayette Squadron in France.

Dir: Dell Henderson

After his father's death, Charles de la Fontaine, the Marquis d'Aubeterre, learns that the family is penniless and journeys to America to earn a living for himself and his sister Helen. The Countess d'Este secures him a position in the home of Lathrop, a millionaire, and the young nobleman instantly falls in love with Lathrop's pretty daughter Marian. Supposing that Charles is after her fortune, Marian avoids him and becomes engaged to the wealthy Rudolph Miller. Charles changes her opinion of him, however, when he and Marian are locked in an old tower, and, after swearing that he will only marry her when the two are equally wealthy, he makes a daring escape. Unknown to the Lathrops, Charles backs Marian's brother Frank in a financial venture, as a result of which the two young men become rich. Marian discovers that Rudolph is unfaithful, and with the "golden wall" of wealth that had separated them now obliterated, she and Charles wed.

Dir: Dell Henderson

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

Stubborn Emily Delmar sneaks out of the house to go to a nightclub, and when she discovers that she has left her house keys at home, decides to spend the evening at the apartment of Richard Trotter, a young man who is pursuing her. Trotter comes home to find her there, and proceeds to take her to the house of her Aunt Geraldine. On the way there they stop at a beachfront hotel for dinner, and Emily, not ready to go to her aunt's house just yet, hatches a scheme to stay overnight and have a swim. Unfortunately, her Aunt Geraldine and Herbert Threadgold, a rival for Emily's affections, arrive at the hotel, see Richard and Emily there and assume "the worst". Complications ensue.

Dir: Dell Henderson

To prevent her niece from becoming an old maid, Beatrice Hammond's aunt stipulates in her will that the girl must be married by the age of eighteen or sacrifice a million dollar inheritance. Beatrice is in love with Ronald Farwell, but he has been called to fight against the Germans in France, so Beatrice approaches her guardian, Gerald Eversleigh, with a plan: Gerald will marry her, thus insuring that she will inherit the fortune, but divorce her as soon as Ronald returns. The wedding is staged, and all goes well until Gerald falls in love with his wife. Meanwhile, Ronald falls in love with a French nurse and, upon his return home, offers to pay Gerald to remain married to Beatrice. Gerald happily accepts the offer but refuses the money, and Beatrice discovers that she has loved her husband all along.

Dir: Dell Henderson

Helene De Travillac, a sweat little French girl, loves her handsome cousin, Andre D'Eguzon, but a scheming aunt has engaged her to Valentin LeBarroyer, a methodical, statistic-loving "stick," but wealthy. On the wedding morning Andre suddenly appears on the scene and pleads with Helene. She hesitates, a little, tears off her veil and flees with her lover to her old home in the country. There her grandmother makes the natural mistake of thinking Andre is the husband. The resulting complications are amusing. Finally arrives the discarded Valentin, hunting for his bride. When he dins her he proves himself a man, and "The Beautiful Adventure" ends happily for the lovers.