The Definitive Guide Inspired by the Vision of The Return of Sophie...

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

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

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: George Archainbaud

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Eva, wo bist du? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Cardinal Mercier protects the altar of his church from desecration when German forces invade the Belgian city of Louvain during World War I. Although the soldiers commit widespread atrocities, the cardinal does his best to protect the townspeople. Cardinal Mercier's young ward, Liane de Merode, is betrothed to Belgian officer Maurice Lambeaux, but the German governor general tries to gain possession of her against the cardinal's will. Despite the plotting of the governor general, Maurice breaks through the German lines in a disguise. Secretly the cardinal marries the young couple and smuggles them across the border to France.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

Dir: George Archainbaud

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

Maud March, the rebellious daughter of a a millionaire, goes to New York to see her sweetheart Geoffrey who left town years ago. Her aunt Carolyn wants Maud to marry her son Reggie and sends the girl's brother Percy after her to act as chaperon. Maud, trying to escape, enters a taxi where she meets handsome composer George Bevan. The man falls in love with the young lady who, when she sees Geoffrey has become fat and ugly, soon agrees to marry George.

Dir: George Archainbaud

Bess Hulette is disappointed and feels ignored when her husband Aleck accepts a partnership in an ad agency owned by Stephen Graves. She tells her neighbor, Mrs. Leonard, about her predicament. One day a young woman, Dorothy Delamore, is injured in a car accident just outside the Hulettes' home. Bess meets Dorothy's brother, Jack, who is attracted to her. Noticing his attraction, Mrs. Leonard--who is cheating on her own husband--urges Bess to take up with Jack. Still feeling ignored by her husband, Bess accepts an invitation to a party at Jack's house, but finds out that things aren't exactly what they seem.

Dir: George Archainbaud

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

Adoree, a young Belgian girl, half-mad by the war horrors that she has experienced,is found by the Hudsons, a wealthy American couple who take the amnesia-stricken girl back to the United States with them. Soon after, Roger Hudson is called away to business in South America, and when his wife Claire discovers that Adoree is pregnant, she convinces the girl to allow the Hudsons to claim the child as theirs. The child is born and Dr. Thorn cables Hudson to come home because his wife has given birth. Meanwhile, Adoree, longing for her baby, steals the infant and disappears. Finding the girl's coat near a lake, Hudson assumes that she has drowned and dynamites the lake in order to locate her body. The explosions restore Adoree's memory, and she recalls her marriage to the Vicomte Jean de Michelet, who happens to be in town raising money for Belgian relief. The vicomte is brought to his wife and the family is happily reunited.

Dir: George Archainbaud

Dr. David Carewe's already unhappy marriage is made worse when his wife Helen's refuses to have children. Helen poses as the wife of gambler Robert Spencer in Europe, while David falls in love with Spencer's wife Madeline. When news reaches David that Spencer and his supposed wife have been killed, he weds Madeline and they have a daughter, June. Helen suddenly reappears, but David renounces her and continues to live happily with Madeline. Eighteen years later, June falls in love with a young man who is revealed as the son of Spencer and a woman to whom he was married before Madeline. Rather than ruin the budding romance, Madeline asks Helen to pose as June's mother, which restores June's name and allows the young lovers to marry.

Dir: George Archainbaud

Violetta D'Arcy turns down the proposal of Jack Harrington, whom she believes to be poor, and instead marries the wealthy Robert Van Ellstrom. Her husband's fortune, however, is not sufficient to cover her gambling debts, so she pawns her sister-in-law's jewels and accepts money from Jack's father, who wishes to be introduced into society. When Harrington, Sr. makes improper advances towards Violetta, Robert fights him, and in the struggle, Harrington, Sr. shoots Jack in the arm. Believing that he has killed his son, Harrington commits suicide. Despondent and ashamed, Violetta tries to drown herself, but Robert intercedes and takes her in his arms.