The Auteur's Selection In the Shadow of The Sweetness of Loving: Cult Guide

Dir: René Hervil

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A millionaire bets £25,000 that he can earn his own living for six months.

Dir: Reggie Morris

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: René Hervil

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

Flora Nys, a poor flower girl of Paris faces hard times. Her rent overdue, Le Baron, the landlord, oppresses her and puts before her a shady proposition. Indignantly she orders him out of her room. When she takes up her flowers, preparatory to going forth to sell them, she discovers that Le Baron has trampled on them. Tempted by her poverty she steals a fur in a department store. Le Baron sees her and follows her into the street where the girl, conscience-stricken, throws it away. Le Baron picks it up and follows her to the home of Paul Bernard, an actor, who every year gives a Christmas party to certain poor children of Paris. Bernard redeems the fur and, attracted by Flora's loveliness, asks her to become his wife. In time, Flora becomes an expert dancer and leading woman at Bernard's theatre. Gray Stanton, a wealthy rounder, attracts Flora. He endeavors to entice her away from her husband in which task he is assisted by Le Baron, who harbors revenge. On the night of the opening of a new production, Flora deserts the theatre, influenced by a trumped up story regarding Stanton's injury. She discovers the lie and returns to Paris to discover that her husband is suffering from an attack of brain fever occasioned by her flight. She devotes her time in efforts to bring back his memory and finally when another Christmas rolls around she dons her old clothes and sits before the open fire place as she did when Bernard first met her. This has the desired effect. Bernard's memory is restored and he readily forgives the past when he learns the unhappy story of Stanton from his wife's own lips. Motion Picture News, December 14, 1918

Dir: Malcolm St. Clair

A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.

Dir: Hal Roach

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

An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.

Dir: Jerome Storm

Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.

Dir: Charley Chase

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Don't Weaken! perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.

Dir: René Hervil

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: René Hervil

Suzanne Daubray, whose brother went off to war, is courted by the Prince of Sylvania who is engaged to Princess Sonia.