Masterpiece Selection Resonating with the Themes of The Tangle: Cult Guide

Dir: Harry Lambart

Young, pretty and fond of dress, Rhoda Mills, brought up in moderate circumstances, prefers young Dick Arnold, just from college, to Gilman Beverly, a wealthy, middle-aged gentleman and a friend of her father's. Mr. Beverly is unselfishly devoted to Rhoda and after finding she loves Dick, withdraws in favor of the young man. He contributes a handsome check as a wedding present, and proves himself a faithful friend to the young people. All goes well, until one evening Dick is unable to go with them to the opera, and she and Beverly go alone. Dick returns home from business tired and irritable and when Rhoda and Mr. Beverly arrive, he becomes suspicious of their friend. The next day Dick, arriving home early, finds Mr. Beverly there and orders his wife to put a stop to his visits. He puts on his hat and coat, and goes out in a rage. Mr. Beverly sees something is wrong and persuades Rhoda to tell him. Stunned and hurt, he immediately goes out, leaving Rhoda weeping. Two years pass and Rhoda becomes tired of genteel poverty. One of her friends invites Dick and her to a reception at the St. Regis and Rhoda realizes she has no clothes suitable for the occasion. Dick gives her some of the rent money, making it up later on by night work. Unable to find anything suitable for the amount she has, in a moment of temptation, at the solicitation of a chum, she runs a bill at a fashionable dressmaker's. Later, when the dressmaker begins to press her for payments, she desperately pawns some of her jewelry, and finally becomes ill through worry. Dick has become intensely jealous of Beverly, who comes to visit Rhoda in her illness. Mad with jealous rage, he denounces her and Beverly, and orders her from the house. She meets Mr. Beverly and tells him all her troubles. He tries to comfort her and Dick sees Rhoda in his arms. Dick now determines to commit suicide, but is prevented by Rhoda and Beverly, and, after explanations, Rhoda says, "I have paid the price of vanity." After Beverly and Dick shake hands as friends once more, he goes out, leaving the two young people to their happiness.

Dir: Harry Lambart

After the breakup of her marriage, Gladys Dale works for prominent society woman Mrs. Dorset as companion to her daughter Diana. Mrs. Dorset's ne'er-do-well son Robert becomes involved with a gang of thieves headed by German spy Fritz von Hoffbert, and after stealing his mother's jewels, he casts the blame on Gladys. Saddened, Gladys leaves for France as a Red Cross nurse, where she meets Edwin Fairfax, who loves her. Fairfax commands the army company to which von Hoffbert has been assigned as a spy, and when Fairfax learns the latter's true identity, the two fight. Fairfax is wounded defeating von Hoffbert and meets Gladys again in the hospital, where he proposes. At home, Robert is caught in another robbery, which clears Gladys' name.

Dir: Harry Lambart

Miss Olivia Martindale, at a dinner, announces: "There is no longer any romance in American life," and immediately arouses a storm of protest. Nevertheless, she describes to the assembled company the days of old when men had to scale the heights of hazard to win their women, adding that that is the way she would wish to be wooed. That evening, while strolling in the grounds, a muffled figure steps out, seizes her, and forces her into a waiting racing car. At the Bermuda Apartments. The Unknown unmasks and proves to be a handsome gentleman in immaculate evening clothes. He quietly escorts her to a chair, hands her a police whistle and a pistol to reassure her, and begs her to listen to what he has to say. He bids her call up her anxious relatives and simply tell them she is safe, asking them to come and get her without the police. Attracted by the man's magnetic personality and the glamour of the adventure, she obeys him. Then he tells her how he had seen her in the far west, how her face had been his guide through all the rough gold mining camp life, and now that he had wrested his fortune from those hills he had come east to meet her. His narrative takes them right up to the present, then as the girl, swayed by overpowering emotions, arises, he pleads his suit eloquently and passionately until she surrenders, and he sees in her eyes the dawn of love. Sweeping her into his arms, he kisses her, just as the door bursts open and Mr. Martindale and the others enter. Olivia calmly introduces "Mr -er-er" (she has to ask the gentleman his name) Billy Williams, the well-known millionaire, to her speechless papa as her fiancé.

Dir: Harry Lambart

When the drummer tells Hugh and Willie at the country store of the wonders of New York, nothing will suit them but that they take a trip to the metropolis. Rigged out in large-patterned new clothes, they bid good-bye to the home town, bound for a visit to the startling city. Reaching New York, they are so amazed that they can hardly proceed along the street, so intent are they in taking in what they see. An affable stranger bumps into Hugh. The stranger treats himself to a large dinner at Hugh's expense, which takes all the money Hugh has and half of Willie's. The stranger also relieves Willie of his other half, but Willie does not notice this until later. The owner of a newspaper stand leaves the stand to chase some thieving boys. Willie discovers the loss of his money. An idea strikes Hugh. Hugh gets behind the stand, takes off his new trousers and hands them to Willie, who is to pawn them and buy a cheaper pair. Hugh decides to sell papers during his friend's absence. The proprietor comes back and orders Hugh to vacate. Hugh tries to explain, but a policeman is called. A merry crowd follows Hugh and the officer as they go down the street, Hugh holding part of the stand around him. Two Scotchmen in kilts, of the Caledonian Club, take Hugh from the officer and lead him to their club. They give him a job as assistant steward. Hugh decides to visit his old home town. He writes to Willie he is coming, also that he never wears trousers now and doesn't miss them. When the letter is received it causes great consternation. The villagers indignantly decide to prevent Hugh's arrival. A prevention committee goes to meet the train. All the women of the village are locked indoors. A cold welcome is turned into a general warm greeting when Hugh, resplendent in his kilts, steps into the station platform. He is the lion of the town. Willie now understands that trousers do not make the man.

Dir: Harry Lambart

Janet Rigsby loves Richard Morgan, a Denver college student, but loses him when he is caught in a fire. Shortly after Richard's presumed demise, Janet leaves her home and bears a son out of wedlock. Over the years, she struggles to make ends meet while raising Bud, her son, on her own. Although her savings are small, Janet manages to send Bud to college. Chastised for his poverty and illegitimate birth, Bud, who is in love with the college gardener's daughter, suffers the ridicule of his peers and eventually comes to blows with and threatens one particular boy for insulting his mother. In the ensuing confrontation, the boy is killed and Bud is arrested for the crime. During the course of the trial, Bud discovers that the district attorney is Richard Morgan, his father. The testimony of one expert witness reveals how the murder in truth was committed, and a liberated Bud happily reunites with his mother and new-found father.