Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of The Secret Game: Cult Guide

Dir: William C. de Mille

An artist in England is torn between an old flame and the now grown up little girl he has adopted.

Dir: William C. de Mille

Mirandy, the daughter of a laundress, scrubs floors in an opera house. Before she can marry the handsome organist for the opera, she decides she must improve her social standing.

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

Dir: William C. de Mille

Headed by a young nobleman, the Russian League of Freedom determines to free the peasants from oppression by the government. Prince Paul Alexis is in love with Karin Dolokhof, daughter of the chancellor. Both are working for the league. Shortly after they announce their engagement the prince receives word from the Czar that he must marry the Princess Tanya, for political reasons. Upon receiving the command the prince expresses his intention to leave Russia with Karin Dolokhof, but she reminds him of his allegiance to the freedom league. Princess Tanya is in love with Count Egor Strannik, but under pressure, she discards the count and marries the unwilling prince. Through espionage, the chief of the secret police learns of the prince's affiliation with the freedom league and as Prince Alexis and his wife, Princess Tanya, hold a reception, at which the government heads are present, he sends Count Egor Strannik to secure the evidence. The count, who is still in love with Princess Tanya, tries to force his love upon her, and as he holds her in his arms, Prince Alexis discovers them and beats the count with a knout. For revenge the count, with a band of followers, forces the prince to reveal the hiding place of some important league papers.

Dir: William C. de Mille

When Julian's wife Daisy leaves home to visit her sick father, he finds himself attracted to his best friend's wife Margaret, who has been neglected by her husband. Julian and Margaret take a drive to a mountain resort, and find themselves about to consummate their affair when something happens that makes her have second thoughts. Complications ensue.

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

Dir: William C. de Mille

Piffle, a circus clown, is badly injured after saving the son of Judge Jonathan Le Roy from a team of runaway horses. During his convalescence at the Le Roy home, Piffle falls in love with Millicent, the judge's daughter. When she learns that Dick Ordway, the father of her unborn child, has died while prospecting in the desert, Millicent tries to drown herself. Piffle comes to the rescue once again, proposing to marry Millicent and be a father to her child. Although she does not love Piffle, Millicent agrees. At the judge's insistence, Piffle leaves the circus to become a banker. Some time later, Dick reappears, but decides not to pursue Millicent, focusing instead on selling shares in his mine. The mine becomes a bonanza, and Dick tries to buy back all of the shares, but Piffle refuses to sell. Dick visits Piffle's home, hoping to negotiate a sale, and has an unexpected reunion with Millicent. Realizing that Millicent and Dick are still in love, Piffle returns to the circus, where he finds fulfillment bringing joy to children.

Dir: William C. de Mille

Jack Straw, an iceman, falls in love with the voice of Ethel Parker Jennings which he is accustomed to hearing down the dumbwaiter shaft of his Harlem flat. When the Jennings family acquires wealth through an oil investment, they move to California and Jack follows. Finding employment as a waiter, Jack meets Holland, who holds a grudge against the snobbish Mrs. Jennings. Holland enlists Jack in a scheme to humiliate the haughty woman by persuading the waiter to impersonate the Archduke of Pomerania. Jack consents, seizing upon the opportunity to be near Ethel, and during Jack's stay with the Jennings, the couple fall in love. Eventually Holland decides that the joke has gone too far and unmasks Jack. Mrs. Jennings expels Jack from the house, but when the real ambassador from Pomerania appears and documents Jack's authenticity, she recants and announces Ethel's engagement to the archduke waiter.

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

Dir: William C. de Mille

After an accusation of a breach of diplomacy committed by his brother, Hashimura Togo bears the burden and leaves Japan in disgrace for the United States where he enters the employ of Mrs. Reynolds as a butler. Togo discovers that Mrs. Reynolds' daughter Corinne is in love with Dr. Garland but is being coerced into marrying Carlos Anthony who, having seized all of her deceased father's funds, now promises to save the family from financial ruin in return for Corinne's hand in marriage. Enlisting the aid of a reporter, Hashimura succeeds in proving Anthony's deception in time to stop the marriage, freeing Corinne to marry Garland. After a series of misadventures, his name is cleared and Hashimura returns to his sweetheart in Japan.

Dir: William C. de Mille

An island ordeal: A woman chooses a count over an alcoholic doctor. The envious count poisons her but performs a life-saving blood transfusion, costing his life. She has the count's baby and ultimately remarries the rehabilitated doctor.

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

Dir: William C. de Mille

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William C. de Mille

Conrad Warrener, a man of near middle-age, reflects nostalgically on the happy times of his youth and decides to recapture them. However, what he learns about the "second time around" is neither what he expected nor what he hoped for.