Curated Recommendations Seeking the Same Brilliance as The Purple Mask: Cult Guide

The The Purple Mask Phenomenon

The Purple Mask remains a monumental achievement to provide a definitive example of Grace Cunard's stylistic genius.

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

Episode 1: "The Vanished Jewels" Patricia Montez, niece of the wealthy Eleanor Van Nuys, is the most popular girl in the American colony of Paris. Her one idea is to bring comfort to the suffering poor. Her aunt, Mrs. Eleanor Van Nuys, is likewise charitably inclined. The Children's Asylum, a refuge for orphans, is the principal hobby in Mrs. Van Nuys' scheme of charity. To her friends, Patricia is affectionately known as "Pat." The result of Pat's popularity has been to give the spirited girl an excellent opinion of herself, and when Phil Kelly snubs her she resents it and resolves to go to any length in retaliation. Kelly is a famous detective, known all over Europe as "The Sphinx." Pat's first venture, in retaliation for Kelly's rudeness, is to steal her aunt's jewels. She then notifies Kelly. Pat hides the jewels in her dressing table drawer. They are stolen by Jacques, the butler, who takes them to the rendezvous of his fellow Apaches, the Café Chat Noir. Pat has noticed Jacques' suspicious conduct and follows him to the café. She is followed by Phil Kelly and two of his assistants. Pat is disguised as an Apache's sweetheart, and bribes her cabman to assume the role of her lover. They enter the café and participate in the festivities. Pat sees Jacques displaying to his pals the Van Nuys' heirlooms. By deftly whirling her dancing partner to the table where Jacques sits, she manages to stumble and strike the butler's arm. The jewels fall from Jacques' hands. Pat picks them up and as she is leaving the place Phil Kelly confronts her. In her surprise, Pat drops the gems upon the steps. She dodges past the detective and makes her way home. Kelly observes the jewels lying on the ground, and pocketing them, departs.