Essential Cult Cinema Mirroring the Impact of The River of Romance:...

Dir: Henry Otto

Venus sends Cupid to earth to find if romance still exists there. He finds Moira and Peggy, a fisherman's daughters, who become entangled in the amorous pursuits of an artist and a fisherman. Cupid returns to Venus with his report.

Dir: Henry Otto

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

William Claxtonbury, the elderly, lecherous head of the Working Girls' Welfare Association, flirts with his pretty clients and gives plainer applicants an inspirational pamphlet. Claxtonbury's stenographer, Norma Wood, is engaged to George Goodie, a sanctimonious, miserly clerk, who looks forward to her continued employment after their marriage. Determined to have a fling at life, Norma walks out on Goodie and charges a number of gowns to Claxtonbury. In her finery she visits a restaurant, where she meets Oliver Morley. Oliver's sister, Mrs. Sentel, a wealthy widow whose two passions in life are her son Gregory and "the movies," hires Norma for $5,000 to lure Gregory from his portly sweetheart, a delicatessen owner's daughter. Using tips found in How to Win a Man in 48 Hours , written by a "picture vamp," Norma succeeds and Gregory proposes to her. Norma, however, realizes that she has fallen in love with Oliver and confesses all to him. Her love is reciprocated and Norma and Oliver plan to marry.

Dir: Henry Otto

Bess Belwyn, daughter of a criminal who reforms in prison, becomes engaged to District Attorney John Mobley. To save her father from being denounced by his erstwhile accomplice, Bess, unaware of the consequences, becomes involved in a jewelry theft. She then tries in vain to confess and break the engagement. After she marries Mobley, the crook attempts to blackmail Bess, but she confesses everything to Mobley and in the subsequent fracas the crook is killed.

Dir: Henry Otto

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

Young bride Patricia Morley's flirtatious ways at a summer resort keep her husband Henry in a state of continual anxiety. At an old-fashioned barn dance, Patricia enacts the role of a chicken breaking out of an egg, and Henry's wrath explodes. After accusing her of being in love with another man, Henry returns to New York and files for divorce. Heartbroken, Patricia sends her friend Victoria French to tell Henry that she is dying. Meanwhile, Patricia goes to a hospital and alarms the staff with her hysterical conduct. Later the nurse discovers that Patricia is bluffing. Henry arrives at the hospital just in time to see Patricia pretending to be nurse to his divorce lawyer, Geoffrey Patten, whose leg is broken. Henry's anger explodes again, but he makes up with Patricia and they go home together. Henry hires the hospital nurse as a detective, causing more complications, but Henry finally is cured of his jealousy.

Dir: Henry Otto

The tactics of a vicious slumlord and greedy businessman finally drive a distraught man to commit suicide. The businessman is tried for murder, executed, and afterward swiftly taken by demons to the Hell where he will spend the rest of eternity.

Dir: Henry Otto

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

Jack and Blanny Wheeler live in the apartment above Laura and Billy Bartlett. Jack likes to stay out late and play poker, but covers by telling his wife that he attends meetings of the Mystic Shrine society. Laura is carrying on a dalliance with Philip Evans. One night Jack goes to play poker and leaves Blanny with the Bartletts. Laura goes out with Philip. Blanny and Billy commiserate about their loneliness, and concoct a scheme to arouse their spouses' jealousies. They taste various liquors, become intoxicated, and fall asleep. Jack, Laura, and Philip return. Jack and Laura both threaten divorce until the explanations are made, and the couples are reunited.

Dir: Henry Otto

John spies his girlfriend embracing his brother. Stunned, John deposits the family's money and leaves the country. Years later he returns to find his brother dead, the plantation in ruins, and that he is suspected of stealing the money.

Dir: Henry Otto

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

After her mother dies, a young girl is sent with her little sister to live with their aunt and uncle, who treat her terribly. The aunt and uncle run a show at the Panama exposition and turn her into a human butterfly.

Dir: Henry Otto

In the South Seas lives Lorelei, who decides to act out her fantasies and poses on the rocks as she sings. From his yacht, Dorian, hears Lorelei's song and goes to investigate. His boat is destroyed on the rocks, and Lorelei cares for him.

Dir: Henry Otto

British aristocrat Iris must choose between the poor Laurence and the rich Frederick. She decides to go for the money and agrees to marry Frederick, but at the last minute she changes her mind and runs off to Italy with Laurence. However, things don't work out quite the way she planned.