Editor's Top Picks Sharing the Atmosphere of The Sons of Satan: Cul...

Dir: George Loane Tucker

A gang consisting of the Frog, who can dislocate his limbs; the Dope, a drug addict; Rose, who poses as the Dope's brutalized mistress; and Burke, the leader; prey on the sympathies and contributions of Chinatown sightseers, until Tom, reading about a deaf, mute, and nearly-blind supposed faith-healer called the Patriarch, living upstate, plans to take greater advantage of the public's gullibility. and Rose poses as the patriarch's long-lost niece and the Frog fakes a cure, when a real crippled boy, inspired by seeing the Frog's contorted limbs healed, walks for the first time. When news spreads and other cures occur, the gang collects much money, but gradually, each member, influenced by the Patriarch and the country atmosphere, changes for the better. The Frog becomes a widow's adopted son, while the Dope falls in love. When Rose almost falls for a millionaire, Tom overcomes his murderous jealousy and, renouncing his past, declares his love. After the Patriarch dies, Tom and Rose marry.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

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

A squire tries to make his son deny he fathered a villager's child, and wed an heiress.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

A man turns poacher for love of a married woman and is jailed by his widowed mother's evidence.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

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

Schooled by her wealthy brother-in-law William Hollins, Christine Bleeker plans to marry Ralph Lincourt when he is divorced. He, however, is equally pursued by Nancy Barron, whom Christine dislikes. Ned Klegg loves social secretary Barbara, and resents the attention paid her by Barron, Nancy's elderly husband. Nell Martin, a servant in the Hollins home, is in love with the gardener but is persecuted by the butler. Aviator Mulvain and his mechanic Le Prim arrive, and Le Prim absconds with Nancy in an auto, pursued by Mulvain and Christine, who force him to release her. Christine announces her engagement to Mulvain, who declares he is a poor man. In the resulting commotion, it transpires that Nell, threatened with exposure, has drowned herself. The shock brings a change of emotion: Barbara rejects Barron and accepts Klegg, and Christine accepts Mulvain, content to share his poverty.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

Pete Quilliam, a fisherman on the Isle of Man, and his best friend, a lawyer named Philip Christian, are each in love with Kate Cregeen, an innkeeper's daughter. Pete is rejected by the girl's father and leaves for South Africa to seek his fortune. When Pete is reported dead, Kate is saddened yet relieved, for she really loves Philip. But Pete returns with enough wealth to overcome the father's objections. Obedient to her father, Kate weds Pete, hoping for the best.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

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

With aid from her police-officer sweetheart, a woman endeavors to uncover the prostitution ring that has kidnapped her sister and the philanthropist who secretly runs it.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

When the king is killed by his rival, his English double takes his place and is shot.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

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

When Marjorie Caner returns from abroad, she is quite lonely in her millionaire father's big house. Learning that a young poet, Anthony Quintard, is living in poverty next door while working on the libretto of a great opera, she skips across the roofs and brings him a Christmas banquet. The poet sees Marjorie, and knowing that he detests wealth, she pretends to be the secretary of the Caner family. Marjorie volunteers to type his libretto, and a close intimacy grows between them. Tony wins a $10,000 prize for his work, but is enraged when he discovers that Marjorie is an heiress. Morris Caner, mellowed under his daughter's tutelage, comes to the rescue by feigning financial ruin, and manages to reconcile the two lovers.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

A Lord's son loves the daughter of a counterfeiter who steals necklaces.

Dir: George Loane Tucker

A typist exposes a group of businessmen as German spies plotting to blow up a bridge.