Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of The Scarlet Cry...

Dir: Charles Swickard

Wealthy young American Carrington O'Connell is traveling Europe with a "social advisor" to become more polished and sophisticated. While stopping at an inn in Switzerland, he is entranced by pretty young Adrienne Le Blanc, whose parents own the inn and in which she entertains travelers. Adrienne falls for him, but his "advisor" warns him against such a socially "unacceptable" relationship, and he reluctantly leaves. Adrienne soon gets a contract with a theatrical agent for appearances at a musical hall in America, where she happens to meet Carrington's wealthy father Michael. Complications ensue.

Dir: Charles Swickard

In the wayward western town known as Hell's Hinges, a local tough guy is reformed by the faith of a good woman.

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

Dir: Charles Swickard

George Farrelly, the bored custodian of the safe-deposit vaults in a New York bank, is visited by his childhood sweetheart, Charity Garvice, who tells him that his blind old teacher, Martha Owen, has a premonition that something is wrong in George's life. For the teacher's benefit, George tells a story of taking a diamond necklace left out of a strong box belonging to bank president Harrington's wife, almost giving it to a girl and then keeping it because it is too late to return it. The teacher is relieved when George accepts her advice to return the necklace, but Charity worries when he tells her that the story is true. He returns the necklace and Harrington gives him one hour to see Charity before he calls the police. After George marries Charity, Harrington admits that the necklace was left to test George's honesty, and he offers George the position of assistant manager.

Dir: Charles Swickard

Diligent American art student studying in Paris, Claire Martin suffers a blow to her head that transforms her into a woman of questionable morals. She then becomes involved with Scott Houghton, an unscrupulous artist who paints a suggestive portrait of her. When Houghton attempts to seduce Claire, she resists and in the struggle strikes her head and is restored to her former personality. Claire returns to America with no recollection of her lurid life, but when she meets Houghton at a party, he promises to illuminate her past. He lures Claire to his hotel room where his nephew stabs and kills him. The violence traumatizes Claire, who believes that she perpetrated the crime. When Houghton's nephew confesses, Claire is cleared of the crime and her seedy past and is free to marry her sweetheart Howard Kent.

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

Dir: Charles Swickard

Captain Unger is relating the story of his love for the Hindoo woman, Indore, to Captain Duane and begs him if anything should happen to care for their little girl. When the officers leave the room a Hindoo sent by Indore's husband poisons the decanter of wine. Unger returns and is astonished to see Indore, who has made her way to him. He consents to take her away, drinks the wine, and falls dead. Indore lifts the glass to her lips to die with him, but it is snatched from her by the native, who carries her back to his prince. She is reduced to slavery in the harem. Duane takes the child, Agatha, to England. Agatha develops into a beautiful woman. She is reading a message from Duane with a heavy heart, for it says he is on his way with his bride, Florence, to join his father on his journey to India. En route they meet the Grand Duke Alexis, who has known Florence in the past. Alexis, perceiving that Florence is jealous of Agatha, forces her to think her husband loves the Indian girl. In India, Alexis informs Agatha her mother is not dead and that she might see her. Guided by a native, Agatha confronts the prince and asks for her mother; he parries her question. Looking at her with a lustful smile, he draws near and she retreats in terror. Struggling fiercely, the girl screams as he overpowers her. Indore hears the scream, slips into the room and stabs the prince. She recognizes her child and clasps her in her arms. Thus the guard finds them. Jang Sahib, the hunchback, rushes in when he hears the guard's shriek, and orders the native to spread the news that their prince has been murdered by an English infidel. Soon there is a riot and many white men are slain. Captain Duane, discovering that Agatha has gone to the palace, hastens with a few horsemen. Jang Sahib tells Duane Agatha is not there. Duane fights. Meanwhile Florence, convinced by Alexis of her husband's infidelity, has left on a steamer with him, leaving a note for Duane. While crossing the desert in Sahib's caravan, Indore jumps over the cliff. She is later picked up by some traders still alive, but has lost her memory. At the Walled City Sahib compels Agatha to marry him. On the wedding day she grasps him by the throat and chokes him to death. Duane, crushed by despair, shuns the haunts of white men. He wanders into a native dive, and is startled by the sight of a dancing girl. He staggers to her and, in spite of the curses of the people, leads her out. It is Indore, whom he mistakes for Agatha. She does not even remember her child's name, but when left alone in Duane's home is stabbed by the prince's servant. She is shocked into her right mind and demands to know where Agatha is imprisoned. At the head of a troop, Duane goes to the Walled City in time to snatch Agatha from the funeral pyre into which she is being forced by the subjects of the murdered Sahib. They escape and begin their journey back. Duane and Agatha are happy at seeing each other again.

Dir: Charles Swickard

Engineer Bob Durland, a rival of the wealthy Harold Blake for the hand of Alice Randolph, goes to Mexico during its revolution to prevent Morgan Randolph from losing his oil concession. Harold accompanies him, but when the Mexican insurrectionists threaten the two Americans, he becomes frightened and leaves. Upon his return, he reports that while he himself heroically fought off the revolutionaries, Bob died a coward's death, and Alice, believing her true sweetheart to be dead, agrees to marry Harold. Meanwhile, Bob saves Randolph's mines despite several attempts on his life and then returns to the United States, just in time to prevent his girl from marrying the wrong man. After evening the score with Harold in a fight, Bob takes his place beside Alice at the altar.

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

Dir: Charles Swickard

At the death of Count de Beaulieu, his daughter Jeanne learns that her father had been the arch criminal known as The Phantom. The only other person who knew her father's identity was his lieutenant, Franz Leroux, who now demands that Jeanne marry him in return for his silence. She agrees and they go to America where Jeanne meets an old friend, Jane Elliot. Jeanne confides her secret to Jane, and the two decide to flee to Florida. When en route their train is wrecked and Jane killed, Jeanne, in order to protect herself from her criminal husband, assumes Jane's identity. Posing as Jane, she visits the Marstons and falls in love with Henry Marston. Soon after, Leroux arrives and Jeanne is forced to tell her story. While explanations are in progress, one of Leroux's confederates, whom he had double-crossed, kills the criminal. Henry then forgives Jeanne her deception and together they begin a new life.

Dir: Charles Swickard

D'Artagnan goes to Paris and becomes a member of the famous King's Musketeers. The Queen sends him on a dangerous mission to England. His three companions are either captured or put out of commission in the course of fights on foot and horseback. D'Artagnan reaches London and recovers from the Duke of Buckingham a pair of studs the Queen gave him as tokens of regard. On the ship on which he returns the hero is captured by his deadly enemy, De Rochfort. Jumping over the side, he clings to the chains of the vessel till it reaches port in France. He restores the studs to the Queen, and she has them put back into the necklace where they belong. Cardinal Richelieu has induced the King to command the Queen to appear wearing the necklace at a great court ball. When he sees the complete necklace, his plan to embarrass the Queen falls through. In addition to obtaining the favor of the Queen, D'Artagnan is rejoiced over the safe return of his comrades and his reward from his sweetheart for his bravery.

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

Dir: Charles Swickard

A friend of Dick Bailey is killed by a mysterious assailant, whom Dick suspects to be Stack, who is in league with the crooked sheriff. Out on a spree Dick swears he will marry the first woman he sees, who happens to be Ruth Hammond, sister of his dead friend, arriving to take charge of the Hammond ranch. Revolted by his rough proposal,she fires him as the Hammond foreman and she proceeds to the ranch. Stack informs her he has purchased the ranch for the payment of the back-due taxes, and she relents and rehires Dick and his friends to aid her in her fight against Stack.

Dir: Charles Swickard

British army doctor Robert Lowndes battles a cholera epidemic at a small fort in Cawnpore, India, in the 1850s. When he catches a fever he begins to take morphine in order to continue treating his patients. Unfortunately he becomes an addict. He is supported by his girlfriend Betty Archer, but a rival suitor, Capt. Guy Douglas, is determined to get Lowndes out of the picture any way he can, including giving him drugs. Matters are further complicated by the outbreak of the Sepoy Rebellion, a nationwide mutiny of Indian soldiers in the British army, which breaks out in Cawnpore.