Hidden Genre Gems for Fans of The Queen of Sheba: Cult Guide

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

The story tells of the maneuvering, the machinations and the subtle intrigue of Lady Dolly, Vere Herbert's mother, who is anxious to make an advantageous marriage for her daughter. In doing so she eventually schemes away her child's happiness by marrying her to Prince Zuroff. Some time before she was introduced to the Prince, Vere met and fell in love with Lucien Correze, an opera singer, who became attracted to her. Told by her mother that she must sever her friendship with the singer and marry the Russian Prince, Vere heartbroken, leaves Correze, and her wedding to the Prince is a social event. Soon after her marriage Vere discovers that the Prince is harboring his mistress, Duchess De Sonnaz, under the same roof. A scene follows, after which the Prince banishes his wife, together with her faithful German nurse, to a Russian monastery. Shortly after her incarceration she is followed to the retreat by Correze and Lord Jura, the latter a friend of her mother's. Correze entreats Vere to leave the place and go with him. She is about to succumb to his impassioned plea when the Prince enters the room. Words are followed by a duel in which the Prince and Lord Jura are both killed. The Princess, free, marries Correze.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Should a Mother Tell perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Faced with the tragic responsibility of choosing between the happiness of her 16-year-old daughter Pamela or saving the life of an innocent man, Marie Baudin's first impulse is to sacrifice all for her own. But she has second thoughts that bring complications to all.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

When Herodias divorces her husband and marries his brother Herod Antipas, governor of Judea, the prophet John the Baptist protests and is imprisoned. Salome, daughter of Herodias and both niece and stepdaughter to Herod, dances seductively and wins the prize of anything she asks of Herod. The prize she asks is the head of John the Baptist.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

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

Jess takes care of her younger sister Bess, she has always been her primary consideration, since the death of her mother. Years later, the two sisters are living with their uncle on his plantation in Puerto Rico when they meet John Neil, who immediately falls in love with Jess. Upon realizing that Bess is in love with the same man, Jess sacrifices her own happiness for that of her sister. Soon after, Drummond, a corrupt planter, starts a revolution against the United States government, and in the ensuing war the plantation and all its inhabitants are captured. Jess escapes and rides to the American garrison for aid, but during the fight she is mortally wounded. Her dying words are a blessing upon Neil and her sister Bess.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Lewis Victor of the French Foreign Legion is actually Bertie Cecil, a British nobleman hiding from dishonour for a crime actually committed by his brother. He is loved by Cigarette, a camp follower, but he only has eyes for another. The commandant hates him, and Victor is constantly placed in danger in war-torn Algeria. Then his brother arrives, and with him, a chance to clear his name.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Heart and Soul perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Maria Valverde, a young Spanish woman whose father has settled in the Philippines, arrives home from the convent where she received her education and is soon approached by Diablo Ramirez, a local plantation overseer who hopes to win her heart. Having met the handsome American army captain, Paul Winter, in Manila, Maria scorns Diablo's advances, and later, he is forcefully escorted from the house. Furious, Diablo organizes a group of rebels, who kill Maria's father and hold her a prisoner in her own home. When Captain Winter hears of the revolt, he rushes to Maria's aid but is himself captured. Reinforcements soon arrive from the American army post, and in the fighting, the house is set ablaze. Diablo is about to grab Maria when Captain Winter enters and shoots the rebel down. The Americans finally emerge victorious, and Maria wins her dashing captain.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

After a love triangle results death, St. Elmo falls from grace and is eventually redeemed in this now lost silent film based on the best selling novel by Augusta Jane Wilson.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Under Two Flags perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A gypsy girl with her foster-mother arrive in the French Capital where her beauty attracts the attention of the Apaches, and she becomes a member of their band. Her beauty attracts Claude Frallo, a scientist of note. She repulses him, as she has already fallen in love with Captain Phoebus. During a visit of the gypsy girl in the apartment of the handsome captain, Frallo kills the captain and makes his escape. Upon the arrival of the Gendarmes, Esmaralda is placed under arrest charged with the murder. Esmaralda is subjected to torture to make her confess, but is defiant, knowing that she is innocent. The bell ringer of the cathedral, Quasimodo, who secretly worships the Gypsy girl, becomes her protector. When Frallo visits the prisoner the bell ringer interferes. There is a struggle and the former is hurled from a parapet and killed. Again the girl appears before the tribunal. Put on the rack, she admits the murder of the captain. Just as Esmaralda is to be guillotined, the bell ringer gives the true version of the murder, implicating Frallo whom he killed. Quasimodo, the plucky bell ringer, who was Esmaralda's protector, and her liberator, becomes her husband.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Mary Doone (Theda Bara) lives in a tenement parish house run by Pastor Elliott Clifford (A. H. Van Buren). Mary joints the front as a nurse, and meets war correspondent Lloyd Stanley (Stuart Holmes), whom she had known from London. Stanley is about to take advantage of her when their hospital tent is bombed. Mary finds the body of a young girl in the tent. The young girl is Ethel Wardley (Madeleine Lee Nard), who is the niece of Lady Clifford (Lucia Moore), mother of Elliott Clifford. Mary assumes Ethel's identity and is received by Lady Clifford as her niece. Elliott falls in love with Mary. Stanley returns to London with Ethel, who has recovered from her wounds. Mary confesses what she has done, and despite Lady Clifford's pleas for her to stay, she returns to the parish house to work with children.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

After the death of Princess Arbassoff, Lisza Tapenko, a governess in the household of Prince Arbassoff, fills her place in everything but name. When the prince refuses to marry her because of the difference in their social positions, Lisza's former lover, Vassya, urges her to join the cause of the revolution. Smarting under the prince's refusal, she does so and leaves for Switzerland, the headquarters of the revolutionaries. The prince eventually yields to his son's pleas for Lisza's return and agrees to make her his wife. As Princess Arbassoff, Lisza still continues her activities with the revolutionaries, assassinating government officials and leaving a red rose on each of her victims. Torn between her love for the prince and her love of Russia when the revolutionaries order her to slay her husband, Lisza's devotion to the cause triumphs and she dynamites her house, meeting her death along with the prince's.