Underground Favorites Parallel to the Artistry of The Revolt: Cult ...

Dir: Barry O'Neil

Walter Norman, a wealthy member of the smart set of a small city, becomes an habitual inebriate. His best friend, Richard Grant, makes every effort to bring Walter to his senses, but has no influence until one night, when Norman, under the influence of liquor, attacks James Harker during a party at a fashionable restaurant. Grant takes Norman away on his yacht, and succeeds in curing him of all desire to drink. Norman takes up a new life in New York and becomes socially popular and successful in business. He falls in love with Julia Landis who considers drinking to excess an unpardonable sin. She returns Norman's love, thereby arousing the intense jealousy of John Royce, a successful Wall Street man. In the meantime Harker has married the girl over whom he and Norman quarreled, and has come to New York to raise funds for a questionable business enterprise. He meets Royce in a business way, and at a reception discovers Norman and his fiancée and learns the reason for Royce's hatred for Norman. From Harker, Royce learns of Norman's former indulgence in drink. He promises Harker to back his enterprise if he will get Norman drunk and bring him before Julia, knowing that she would break the engagement if she ever saw Norman in such a condition. Harker succeeds in getting Norman to take the first drink he has had since the sea voyage. With the first drink Norman's weakness returns, and Harker parades him before Julia in a drunken condition. Julia breaks her engagement to Norman, who plunges into the wildest dissipation until, money gone and friendless, he is forced into the streets to make a pitiful living as best he can. Royce at length prevails on Julia to marry him. He is blackmailed from time to time by Harker, who threatens to tell Julia the trick by which Royce and he shamed Norman before her. Norman learns of the trick played upon him and inspired by revenge decides to reform. Under another name he gambles on a careful system and wins. With his winnings he goes into Wall Street and steadily piles up his capital until he becomes a formidable figure in the market. He then turns his financial guns on Royce and brings him to the verge of failure. Julia at length overhears a conversation between Royce and Harker and learns how Norman was tricked by the two plotters. Infuriated, she seeks out Norman, pledges her love to him. Norman tells Julia to return to her home and forgive Royce, and in turn permits Royce to recover from the financial trap in which he has caught him. Desperate for money, and maddened by Royce's final rejection of his demands, Harker waylays Royce and shoots him. On account of the known enmity between Royce and Norman the latter is accused of the crime, brought to trial and convicted. He is sentenced to die, but at the last moment Harker's wife discovers that it was her husband who shot Royce and gives the news to the police. Out of the shadow of death Norman comes face to face with Julia and a new life.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

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

Atwater and Hingham are two rival colleges in the Middle West, and Hingham has for several seasons bested Atwater at football. There is a well-grounded impression that Atwater's weakness on the Gridiron must be attributed to the inherent opposition of its president, Dr. Witherspoon, who has a notion that Atwater, being a Presbyterian institution, should play gentle and unbloody football, and the members of the squad must attend recitations. Fortunately, football has two enthusiastic champions in the president's daughter, Jane, known as "The College Widow" because she bids farewell to her fiancé at every commencement, and Mrs. Dalzelle, a grass widow, who is the convenient and unwatchful chaperone of all the young women who have the entree of the Atwater Campus. These two, after much earnest argument, succeed in convincing the doctor that true college supremacy can only be attained through the excellence of its football team, and the paramount consideration is the defeat of Hingham, a Baptist institution, not far distant. The Atwater eleven, under the charge of Jack Larrabee, a graduate coach, and Matty McGowan, a professional trainer, proves so hopeless as a possible conqueror of Hingham, that Stub Tallmadge, an undergraduate, is sent abroad to search for new athletic timber. After many peregrinations among the farms and manufacturing towns he succeeds in unearthing a young giant named Murphy, who seems to have every qualification and being totally unschooled. It is arranged that he shall enter Atwater as a special student in a course of art, but even the ponderous Murphy is not potent enough to pull the team out of the rut into which it has fallen, and further building up of the team becomes more and more of a necessity every day. Comes there at this time to Atwater a millionaire named Bolton, whose son has for three years been the unapproachable half-back of Hingham, and the arrival of the two creates great enthusiasm among the college athletes. But when it is discovered that Billy's presence with his father is only to secure the services of a tutor, to squeeze him through the fourth freshman year so that he may claim to have spent four years at college, the consternation in Atwater knows no bounds. Coach Larrabee determines to secure the famous halfback at all hazards, and although he is supposed to be almost engaged to Jane Witherspoon, he evolves a plot by which she shall work her wiles upon Billy Bolton, and induce him to enter Atwater as a regular student. This, as usual, proves to be no difficult task, for poor Billy falls in love with Jane at first sight. His father is a long-time patron of Hingham, which institution has often conferred honorary degrees upon him in return for financial assistance, and before leaving Atwater for a quick trip to Europe, he leaves a check for $1,000 in his office as a bet that Atwater cannot beat Hingham in the Thanksgiving game. But he has not reckoned on the wonderful deftness of the college widow as a temptress, for, no sooner has he sailed from New York, when she induces his son to resign from Hingham and become half-back for Atwater. "The plans of mice and men gang aft aglee," however, and in luring the love of the great Hingham star, she falls deeply in love with him herself. On the night of the victory, when he won his game almost by his own exertions, At water is ablaze with lights and fireworks, and the students despoil many stores of their signs and fences of their gates. Then it is that for the first time he discovers that he has been made the dupe of a flirt and decides upon moving west with his father, where even mention of the very name of Atwater would not be possible. At the same time, Jack Larrabee discovers that his plot has become a veritable boomerang, for it has resulted in losing forever the love of Jane Witherspoon, A great celebration of the victory is arranged for the evening of the game at a hotel near the college and while the merry band of revelers are dancing about the mighty bonfire, these disclosures are made, and two fathers announce that their children shall go to the west together. During the progress of the banquet which is to terminate the festivities of the day an accident happens in the kitchen which causes a rapid and devastating conflagration and the guests escape death only after the most superhuman efforts, many of them being compelled to walk through fire or jump from windows into fire nets. To the horror of all, it is announced that Jane has become lost in the scramble for the two stairways and is in the burning building. Billy has been injured by a leap from a window, but Jack Larrabee offers to risk his life to save Jane. The firemen and police, however, assure him that such an effort would be nothing less than a plunge to death, and mass in front of the burning doorway to prevent him from entering. Calling upon his football team, a wedge is formed, which ploughs a way through the massed firemen. Jack feels his way through the fire and smoke, and places his lost love in her more worthy lover's arms.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

Lord Desborough and Captain Mostyn, both officers in the same regiment, are suitors for the hand of Muriel. Desborough wins and marries her, and thereby incurs the everlasting enmity of his rival. Their regiment is ordered to India, where Desborough falls under the wiles of an adventuress named Vivian Darville. His flirtation is duly reported to the absent wife by Mostyn, and the resultant future trouble between husband and wife, is fanned into flame by the jealousy of Rupert Lee, a young officer whom Vivian has driven to drink by her broken promises. On the return of the regiment to England the Desboroughs open their magnificent home, Desborough Hall, where in spite of the fact that Desborough is on the verge of bankruptcy, expensive entertainments are given under the patronage of the Countess, known as "The Sporting Duchess," because her aspirations are in the direction of hunting, horse racing and other phases of sporting life, rather than the less exciting functions of society. She is a woman of great wealth, keeps a large racing stable, and her liking for Desborough causes her to back his horse, Clipstone, for the Derby, as against King of Trumps, who is Mostyn's entry. Deciding to take unto herself a young husband, she selects Dr. Streatfield, a young army surgeon of fickle temperament, who has become engaged to Vivian Darville on the voyage home from England, and whom he introduces into the Desborough circle, only to find that his true affinity is Annette, daughter of Colonel Donnelly. Vivian's interest, however, goes no further than to be introduced into society through her engagement to Streatfield, and once under the Desborough roof, she begins to aid the villainous Mostyn in effecting a separation between the Desboroughs. This will open the way to Mostyn's attentions to Muriel, and at the same time secure revenge for Desborough's casting her off in India. But there is in the household, as nurse for the Desborough heir, Harold, Mary Aylmer, daughter of Desborough's stable trainer, whom Mostyn has betrayed under promise of marriage. She exacts fulfillment of that promise, and the plotters decide to remove her from the field of action at once. Mary reveals her condition to Muriel, who consults Desborough, and he writes her a letter stating that he will provide for her future, but cannot, of course, retain her in his household as preceptress to his own son. At the same time he also writes a letter to Vivian Darville, asking that their former relations be forgotten, and that she no longer should remain in his home, to disturb the restored tender relations between his wife and him. Mary shows the Desborough letter to Mostyn, who promises to do what he can for her in a secret way, at the same time retaining the letter. Going with it to Vivian, she shows him the letter she has received, and the method of parting the Desboroughs is at once revealed. The headings of both letters are torn away, substituting for each other, and two letters are the result, which furnish evidence of Desborough's guilt both with Mary and Vivian. Muriel already prepared by Mostyn for certain compromising disclosures, is shown the letter, believes that her husband is doubly false to her and accepts Mostyn's offer to act as her escort to London, followed by the irate husband. Mostyn takes Muriel to an out-of-the-way inn, where his perfidy is revealed, for she now discovers that his only motive in removing her from her home was to further his own evil designs. She tries to escape from her prison, and a struggle between them is interrupted by Desborough, who administers a severe beating to Mostyn, and informs Muriel that he will at once begin an action for separation. This action results in a sweeping verdict for Desborough. In spite of the earnest efforts of "The Sporting Duchess" and other good friends, and he is given the custody of the child. Harold, a heart-breaking interview taking place in the court chambers. Following his event the affairs of Desborough grow from bad to worse, and even his stable is to be sold. Including the great Clipstone, favorite for the Derby. Believing that Desborough is the betrayer of his daughter, the faithful trainer, Aylmer, deserts him, taking with him Dick Hammond, the lover of Mary, who was to be the mount for Clipstone. The days of sale for the Desborough stable is announced, and to save for Desborough his one hope to recoup his shattered fortunes, his friends decide to raise a fund for the purchase of Clipstone. But their efforts are unavailing, the sum subscribed is not sufficient, and "The Sporting Duchess" is appealed to by Doctor Streatfield and Annette Donnelly to buy the horse herself. Replying that she buys expensive horses only for her husband, the young people magnanimously decide to break the engagement of marriage between them, and the doctor becomes the affianced husband of the Duchess. At the sale the Duchess buys Clipstone; he wins the Derby and nothing is left for Mostyn but to leave the array and retire into solitude with his fellow plotter, Vivian Darville. The unfortunate Rupert Lee, In the cottage where he has been living with Vivian, overhears the interview between Mostyn and Vivian and determines to revenge himself by making atonement for his share in the plots against the Desboroughs, which is done by producing the two Desborough letters with the proper headings supplied. Accordingly the Desboroughs are reunited, the erring Mary is forgiven by her faithful lover, and "The Sporting Duchess," deciding that it is best to be the doctor's mother instead of his wife, restores him to the unhappy Annette Donnelly.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

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

McTeague begins life in the mines. He later becomes an unlicensed practicing dentist. He is a man of violent physical passions, but until he meets little Trina, who visits his dental office, his love instincts have never been aroused. McTeague induces Trina to marry him through the sheer force of his domineering personality. The couple are not happy. Trina develops miserly instincts and when she wins a $5,000 lottery prize, she hoards the money and grows more and more avaricious. McTeague quarrels with Marcus, his former rival for Trina's affections, and the ill feeling between the two men leads to a fierce combat in which McTeague proves the victor. In revenge Marcus has McTeague prevented from practicing dentistry because he has no diploma. McTeague leans on Trina for support but she turns him away. Trina has a severe illness and while recuperating develops a mania for fondling her hoarded gold pieces. McTeague returns to find Trina showering handfuls of gold upon her bed. After a terrific scene he strangles her and steals the money. Marcus, determined to avenge Trina's death, trails the fugitive McTeague into the heart of Death Valley, where the two men come at last face to face in a final battle to the death under the blistering desert sun.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

The world's finest ruby was stolen from the bride of Prince Kassim's great-grandfather several generations ago in India by a marauding rajah. It's now several decades later and the British have conquered India, and one day the ruby shows up for sale by a wealthy London jeweler, Sir John Garnett. Garnett has his own problems--there have been a rash of thefts of his wife's jewels, and he hires a private detective named James Brett to investigate. An agent for the Russian czar expresses interest in buying the ruby, but he's actually a member of a gang that specializes in jewel thefts and steals the ruby, hiding it in a box of chocolates belonging to Garnett's wife. Unbeknownst to Garnett, the jewel thieves and even Garnett's wife, she is actually involved in the theft of her jewels. Complications ensue.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Life's Whirlpool perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

David Spencer falls in love with actress Babbie Norris, but his wealthy, propriety-conscious father John Spencer makes him marry aristocratic Janice Lane. After five years with Janice, David is so miserable that he goes to the river to drown himself. When he sees a corpse floating in the water, however, he decides instead to change clothes with it and leave his own identification cards on the dead man. Then, starting life over, David gets work as a laborer. He meets Babbie again, and soon moves to the Northwest with her. Meanwhile, after the dead man has been identified as David, Janice marries Dr. Stone, whom she has loved for several years.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

Matthews Brainerd, a wealthy contractor and head of a grafting political gang, has formulated a plan for a great scoop from the City Treasury in the form of the forging of city warrants. This is hanging fire, however, because his chief minions, McGrath and Williams, have been unable to find someone who would be willing to stand trial for the crime for a sum of money. The stool pigeon is eventually found in the person of Frank Pierson, a clerk in the Warrant Office, who is betrothed to Helen Knight, but their marriage has been many times postponed on account of his inability to improve her condition in life. Tempted by McGrath and Williams, Pierson agrees to stand trial for the crime for the sum of $50,000, with the understanding that after serving a few months in the penitentiary the ring will exert its influence to have him pardoned. A meeting occurs between Pierson and the gang, and instead of a cash payment he demands five notes for $10,000 each, and these he entrusts for safe keeping with Mrs. Varrick, his lodging housekeeper, until such time as he shall be discharged from prison. But the gang decide that in order to secure their own future safely their victim must be kept out of the way, and three years elapse without anything having been done toward the release of Pierson. He writes to Helen to interest herself in his case, and at the same time makes his story known to General Ruggles, editor of a great reform newspaper, who has been for some time conducting a bitter fight against the ring, and both seek to have the case reopened through the district attorney. This is no less a person than Brainerd's son-in-law, John Stratton, elected to the office through the influence of Brainerd and his gang. After many attempts to secure an interview with Stratton, Helen interests him in her case, with the assistance of his wife, and Stratton decides to bring Pierson before the Grand Jury to prove his allegation that he was the victim of a plot. To keep Helen from being tampered with by the agents of the gang, she is made a visitor in the Brainerd home, and while there receives a letter from Frank Pierson, telling her to proceed at once to Mrs. Varrick's, secure the papers which will prove his innocence, and deliver them to the district attorney. The ring is plunged into a lever of dread lest its members be exposed through the efforts of Ruggles and the district attorney, and the most desperate plan of action is determined upon. McGrath is entrusted with the duty of expunging the pages of the trial from the court records, while Williams is sent to Sing Sing to "get to" Pierson. But the district attorney has given orders that no one is to be allowed to see the prisoner without an order from him, and in lieu of an interview with Pierson, Williams secures from the letter clerk of the prison a copy of Pierson's letter to Helen giving the address of the house where the incriminating papers are concealed. Helen arrives at the house before him, however, secures the papers and takes them to the Brainerd home. Here Brainerd succeeds in convincing her that the district attorney's purpose is to see that Pierson is not to be released. She entrusts the papers with him and he burns them in the fireplace. Full of the conviction that Stratton is Pierson's enemy and Dot his friend, Helen refuses to give her evidence to the Grand Jury, and on Pierson alone devolves the onus of giving the only testimony that can clear him. He tells the story of his agreement with the gang, and when Brainerd's name is mentioned as being the head of it, he collapses in the court and is taken home in a dangerous condition. McGrath is arrested for having tampered with the court records; Williams departs for Canada, and Brainerd finally confesses that Pierson has been the innocent victim of a cruel plot. Now the crushed and broken "boss" pleads for mercy, but even his own daughter cannot bring herself to see him cleared at the expense of her husband's honor, and since Brainerd's death seems only a matter of a very short time, his arrest and trial are left for future consideration.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

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

Horace Frambers, an impecunious literary man receives the following offer: Helen Talbot, daughter of a rich financier, has trusted her lover not wisely but too well. She is about to become a mother. Her lover went down on the Titanic. If Frambers will marry Helen Talbot and save her name he will receive $10,000 and a position in Mr. Talbot's office. Frambers marries Helen; the child dies. Mr. Talbot gradually trusts and likes Frambers, but Helen despises her "bought" husband and intrigues with other men. So Frambers resigns his position and pays her back her $10,000. He deserts her and tells her to get a divorce. Talbot's business is failing and Frambers helps him recover it. Then Frambers returns to his room to die, as he thinks, but when he recovers from his illness he finds Helen by his side. She loves him and they are made happy with a happiness that has not been "bought."

Dir: Barry O'Neil

Businessman Philip Nuneham pays more attention to his business of building power plants than he does to his wife Christabel. Feeling neglected and unloved, Christabel is receptive to the attentions of Rex Allan, a young army officer. When his regiment is suddenly called to duty in India, he convinces Christabel to secretly accompany him to Southampton to see him off. She spends the night with him, and on her way home the next day she is involved in auto accident and injured. Renowned evangelist Sylvanus Rebbings rescues her. He has the largest congregation in the country, but has incurred the enmity of the religious establishment because of his "radical" views on religion and religious hypocrisy, Christabel finds out that she really needs his help when Rex comes home from India and she attempts to end their affair, but her husband discovers her infidelity and threatens to divorce her and keep their daughter Ione.

Dir: Barry O'Neil

The disowned son of a wealthy family is tried for the murder of a college friend who killed himself after his failure as an artist.