The Definitive Guide Deeply Connected to The Snarl: Cult Guide

Dir: Raymond B. West

She was alone in the world save for her little sister, and little sister was dying. She wanted a doll for Christmas and Dorothy had no money. She stole one and three persons paid a heavy price for the tiny toy.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

Jack Harding, a wealthy ne'er-do-well, becomes involved with a Broadway vamp. When she is murdered, Jack is falsely accused of the crime and must turn for help to his lawyer--his wife.

Dir: Raymond B. West

Pampy lives in a quaint little Dutch village, where she supports her invalid father by selling flowers to tourists. Pampy is so beautiful that she provides inspiration to Donald Luther, an American artist who is visiting the village, and at his request, poses for him. Just as his interest starts to blossom into love, he is called away for two weeks. During his absence Pampy's father dies, leaving her only with directions to her wealthy grandfather's home in New York. A letter containing money for her voyage is intercepted by the unscrupulous Captain von der Bloom, who takes an innkeeper's daughter to the old man and tries to persuade him that she is his grandaughter. Pampy is finally able to sail to America when the village priest buys her passage, and she arrives just in time to prevent the old man from turning over a large sum of money to von der Bloom. The gloom of the old house is then awakened to laughter as it is filled with Pampy's charming presence, and all ends happily as she is reunited with her artist.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

Scottish fisherman Andy MacTavish rescues a baby whom he discovers washed up on the shore during a storm, and names her Ariel. As a girl, Ariel often dances on the beach and dreams of a man who will appear to her out of the mist. Her dream comes true when she witnesses an airplane crash in which the pilot, Franklin Shirley, is injured. Andy and Ariel care for Franklin until he recovers his health, after which he returns home. Having fallen in love with Franklin, Ariel follows him to London, where, with the encouragement of impresario Abe Strohman, she becomes a renowned dancer. Now Franklin's social equal, Ariel uses all her wiles to win his love, despite the fact that he is already engaged to Elaine Shackleford. When Elaine's mother asks her to give him up, however, she reluctantly agrees and prepares to give herself to Strohman. Elaine surprises everyone by eloping with Richard Barrows, leaving Franklin free to wed his dancer.

Dir: Raymond B. West

An narcissistic woman with the ability to charm, Leila Aradella reaps delight from preying upon weak men. Her first victim is John Morton, a talented lawyer, whom she ruins both morally and financially. Her second victim, Rex Walden, the generous son of society matron Mrs. Walden, becomes her complete slave. Mrs. Walden sends her elder son Franklin to try to dissuade Leila from toying with Rex's affections. Franklin, however, also falls under Leila's spell, and Rex is driven to suicide by her callous behavior. Desperate, Mrs. Walden enlists Adele Harley, a girl of strong moral character, to fight Leila for Franklin's affections. Adele's determined victory causes Leila to lose her confidence, and in a drunken state, she cuts her own face with a shard from her shattered mirror. Permanently disfigured, Leila ends a broken and lonely woman.

Dir: Raymond B. West

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Maid o' the Storm perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

While on the job, Neva Blaine, a seasoned cabaret girl, is assigned to the well-to-do Warren Kennedy, who has come to her club to forget a recent romantic humiliation. Kennedy was to marry Blanche Calloway, but Ellis Hopper, his rival, seduced her and forced her to appear at the wedding with a note detailing her betrayal. As revenge, Kennedy decides to remake Neva, by schooling her in the ways of society, pair her with Hopper, then, at the proper moment, reveal her lowly background. Although she loves Kennedy, Neva wins Hopper's hand as instructed but, on the day of the wedding, writes to her mentor imploring him to save her from the marriage. When Kennedy refuses to intercede, Neva, desperate with grief, spills wine on her wedding gown and pretends to be drunk in the church, causing the guests to flee and Hopper to denounce her. Her fate apparently sealed, Neva goes off to live alone, but Kennedy, realizing his love for her, saves her from a lonely existence.

Dir: Raymond B. West

Robin Cameron transforms her home on the Scottish seacoast into a hospital for convalescing soldiers. Sidney Carson, who owns the adjoining estate, and Dr. Hyde both love Robin, but she gives her heart to John Hamilton, an American soldier whose ship was sunk off the coast. When several Allied officials are sent to investigate reports of German spy activities in the area, an air raid occurs, and one of the officers is almost killed. Carson accuses John, and Dr. Hyde, jealous of the American's success with Robin, supports Carson's claim. However, with aid from a little Belgian girl named Mimi, Robin discovers that Carson had sent nightly messages to a fleet of German submarines. Exonerated, John departs for the front, and Robin, although her younger brother Donald has just lost his life in battle, bravely bids him farewell.

Dir: Raymond B. West

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

An actress plans revenge on a man and gives it up for the sake of his little son.

Dir: Raymond B. West

Seized with a fainting spell during a polo game, Donald Van Wye is given six months to live and told he must go to Arizona. His brother Tom, an irresponsible college youth, is wired to come home and take Donald's place. When Tom arrives, Donald finds that his little brother has committed himself to an actress named Maizie. Donald pleads with the actress to give Tom up, but when she refuses, Donald marries her in order to save his brother. The couple go to Arizona where their love ripens, and through Maizie's prayers, Donald regains his health. Mrs. Van Wye then comes to visit and tells Maizie that she is preventing Donald from assuming his rightful place in society. Crushed, Maizie starts across the desert alone, and when Donald learns of his mother's dreadful behavior, he follows Maizie and begs her to stay.

Dir: Raymond B. West

The Earl of Selkirk and his family learn of the impending arrival of American pirate John Paul Jones, they flee their castle, leaving behind Nora, the kitchen maid. Left alone in the house, Nora dons the clothes of her mistress and parades herself about the castle until the arrival of the king's light infantry. Because they mistake her for the lady of the house, she invites them to be her guests. Meanwhile, on board the pirate ship, third officer Darby O'Donovan recognizes the little island as his former home. Sent ashore by the commanding officer to investigate, Darby sees Nora, his old sweetheart, seated at the table with the redcoats and, impersonating an Irish gentleman, he interrupts the gathering. Later, a fisherman exposes Darby's true identity and he is arrested. Nora, determined to save her lover, disguises herself as a soldier and signals the pirate ship for help. After a thrilling battle between the pirates and the soldiers, the pirates escape and Darby sails to America accompanied by Nora.