Rare Cinematic Gems Sharing the Atmosphere of The Woman Untamed: Cu...

Dir: Alexander Butler

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: Jack Pratt

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Man's Making perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Dallas M. Fitzgerald

Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.

Dir: Jack Pratt

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

Shore Acres was left to Nathaniel and Martin Berry by their mother. Nathaniel has taken care of his younger brother Martin, who was a child when their mother died, and deeded over his share of the farm to Martin and went to join the rebellion when he found that they both loved the same girl--and she seemed to show a preference toward Martin. On Nathaniel's return home he again took up his work on the farm, and also as custodian to what was known as Berry Light, the lighthouse off the coast of Maine. Martin, the younger brother, a good man at heart, but easily influenced, is approached by Josiah Blake to mortgage the farm, and with the proceeds to cut it up into building lots to be used as a summer colony. The many "air castles" that he builds in Martin's mind finally gain the latter's consent. Blake also tries to win Martin's daughter Helen, better known as Nell, and Martin, thinking it advantageous to have Blake in the family, gives his consent. Nell is in love with Sam Warner, a young physician of the town. Warner is thinking of going west to grow up with the country, and Helen pleads with him to take her along. She appeals to her uncle Nat, who has always looked upon her as his baby, and he advises her going with Sam. Blake suspects that an elopement is imminent and hints to Helen's father at Sam's departure, in a way that sets him to thinking and poisons his mind. Martin starts out to find his daughter. His first visit is to Sam's office, discovering the place dismantled, he now believes Blake's story and starts for the shore, gun in hand, intent on killing Sam. He gets there just in time to see the young couple embarking on Captain Ben Wilson's boat. He, by this time, has been wrought to such a state of mind that he would stop at nothing. He makes for the light house just as a storm is blowing up. As he enters the light house, he sees his brother Nathaniel about to fill the lamp and light it to guide the boats through safety during the storm. He points the gun at his brother and threatens to kill him if he attempts to light the lamp. There a fight ensues and Nathaniel gains possession of the gun, and rushes to the light house tower and lights the lamp. During this time the boat with Sam and Helen on has been tossing about on the rough waters. When the rays from the light house are seen by those on the boat, they are much relieved to find that they have miraculously escaped the reefs. There is a lapse of a year and a half. The picture shows Christmas Eve in the old homestead. Martin, who has always felt reproachful for his treatment towards Nell, is sitting at a table quietly thinking of the past, while the children are jumping around the room in happy anticipation of what Santa Claus is bringing them. Nat steals into the kitchen, sends the children to bed, and asks Martin to help him fill their stockings. Martin goes about it half-heartedly at first, but gradually enters into it with the holiday spirit. Nat then leaves the room and reappears with Nell, Sam, and the baby. Martin is overjoyed at the reunion.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

Dir: Jack Pratt

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

Eleanor Mannering, an American girl living abroad at the home of her cousin, Jessica Mannering, chooses Prince Carl of Noyodna from among her titled suitors and marries him. As they start on their wedding trip they meet with an automobile accident and Eleanor is injured. Baron Von Steinberck, prime minister of Noyodna, arrives at Jessica Mannering's house shortly after the Prince and Princess have left it. He has a message for Prince Carl calling on him to return at once to his capital as his father, the King, is at the point of death. He learns that the Prince has just started on his wedding journey. Accompanied by Dr. McKenzie and one of the Prince's advisers, Von Aldorz, the prime minister, follows Prince Carl and Eleanor. They arrive on the scene of the auto wreck. The Prince leaves at once for Noyodna, after placing his wife in the hands of Dr. McKenzie and Von Aldorz. Back at Jessica's home, Princess Eleanor develops amnesia and remembers nothing that happened before the accident. In delirium her memory partially returns. She calls for her husband piteously, though it is evident that she has forgotten his appearance and personality. Dr. McKenzie and Von Aldorz decide that she has one chance of regaining her reason. A man must appear at her bedside posing as her husband. Mallory, a lover of adventure, and a daredevil, is selected for the role of the bogus Prince. Mallory is presented to the Princess. She falls in love with him at sight and he with her. She believes that he is, as she has been told, the Prince, her husband. The real Prince returns unexpectedly and finds his wife in Mallory's arms. Von Steinberck wishes to rid the Prince of his morganatic wife and abducts her. Prince Carl's father had died and Carl is now King. Mallory sees the abduction and follows. Prince Carl learns of it, too, and pursues with Dr. McKenzie and Von Aldorz. The Princess is carried by Steinberck to a deserted castle. Mallory gets into the castle, followed by the Prince and his group. There is a battle with pistols, during which Steinberck wounds Mallory and kills Prince Carl. Eleanor is freed. Her love for Mallory turns to resentment when she hears of the deception. But Mallory is now hovering between life and death. In his delirium he calls for Eleanor just as she did for a dimly-remembered husband. Dr. McKenzie tells her that her presence at Mallory's bedside alone can save Mallory's life. As she kneels beside the Irish adventurer and calls him by name; he smiles in recognition. The picture fades out with them in each other's arms.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Jack Pratt

When county treasurer Dr. Raymond Pratt loses the money in his care to political robbers, he disappears after leaving a note for his friend Tom Hammond saying that he will not return until he has replaced all of the money. Hammond replenishes the treasury out of his own pocket and dies in the poorhouse, without Pratt knowing that his disgrace was never made public. Years later, Hammond's nephew, Dr. Thomas Rawn, is sent West to investigate a mysterious disease called the Blue Death on the Quien Sabe ranch, owned by Pratt, who now poses as Hank Weaver. Thomas falls in love with Weaver's daughter Jenny but she resists his affection, thinking that he is a spy for a rival ranch, until he saves her from the Blue Death. In the end, Weaver discovers that he is not in disgrace and accepts an important post in Washington where Jenny and Thomas realize their love for each other.

Dir: Jack Pratt

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.