The Auteur's Selection In the Shadow of Warn London: Cult Guide

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Dr. Montrose's attempts to develop a chemical which would make a person super-intelligent fail, and the subjects of his experiments metamorphose into hideous monsters who band together and prey on humans. With the police stymied, a young detective attempts to track down the leader of the group of killers, known only to have a small crimson stain in one eye.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Kitty Cobb had longings for the big city which she had never seen. One day Kitty met a young civil engineer, Bob Caldecott, on his way to the fort near her home with secret plans. He took her riding in his auto and entertained her with stories of the great metropolis. Bob finally left her at her gate and drove away. But Kitty was restless afterwards, and started to wander over the fields towards the fort. Suddenly she stopped. Before her were three suspicious-looking characters with cameras. They seemed to be taking photographs of the fortifications. Creeping closer, she overheard their conversation. They were spies. Kitty started to run home, but the spies discovered her and gave chase. She outdistanced them, however, and had just time to telephone the fort when the men entered her home, jerked her away from the 'phone and bound her father, mother and herself to chairs. Then they fled. Bob and the Colonel came to the rescue. Young Caldecott devoted himself to comforting Kitty. The yearning to live in the city grew upon her as a result of Bob's visit, and she importuned her parents to permit her to go and find work. After long urging they at last reluctantly consented. Her early experiences were not encouraging. She could not get anything to do, and in a short time was down to her last cent. After barely escaping being turned out on the streets of New York for not paying her board, through the efforts of a fellow boarder, a kind-hearted woman, she secured a position as usher in the Globe theater. One night at the theater a young top presumed to force his attentions upon her. A lovely old lady, richly gowned, overheard his remarks and interfered. As she was talking to Kitty, who should come up and address her as mother but Bob. Kitty and Bob recognized each other at once, and the result was that Mrs. Caldecott made Kitty her secretary. One day Count Pulaski, Bob's sister's fiancé, was introduced to Kitty. He was none other than the infamous villain whom she had discovered taking pictures of the fortifications. Quick as a flash Kitty saw through the count's stratagem. He was there not because he loved Bob's sister, but to steal the secret plans. Kitty hastened to the room which Bob had converted into a workshop. She barely concealed the precious drawings when the count also entered the room. Seizing her he wrapped a heavy curtain about her head and lowered her out of a window to his waiting accomplices outside. It was at this time that Ed Randall, Kitty's country swain, came to New York. As he was passing through a side street on his way to see Kitty he saw an auto stop in front of a squalid tenement. Two men sprang from it, and carried a struggling figure tied in a curtain into the house. When Ed reached the Caldecott mansion he found the entire household in dismay over the mysterious fate of Kitty. He related what he had seen. Without a moment's wait he and Bob started for the suspected house. They gained admittance, but were informed that the girl was not there. As they were about to leave in despair, Bob found Kitty's handkerchief. Hearing a muffled cry, Bob and his companion dashed upstairs and entered a room. Here Kitty was being held by the count and his confederates. There was a terrific exchange of blows. The count and his forces went down. So did Ed Randall. Bob seized Kitty and started down the stairs. He was attacked by another of the gang. In the struggle both fell over the balustrade and were rendered unconscious. A woman confederate recaptured Kitty, just as the count and one of his thugs reappeared on the scene. The girl was bound again. Bob was dragged to a small room, where his captors tossed him. still unconscious, on a bed, turned on the gas, and left him to perish. Ed, overcome in the battle upstairs, soon regained his senses and started down the fire escape. He heard Kitty trying to beat down a boarded window on the floor below. He battered it in and rescued her. But Kitty would not go without her Bob. The two returned to the house. After a short search Ed found Bob and carried him into the air. But before they could make their escape the count and his followers returned to the attack. Kitty battled her way to the street and obtained the aid of the police. That was the end of Count Pulaski. There was a great reunion at the Caldecott mansion that evening to celebrate the return of Kitty. And as for Bob, well, Miss Cobb became Mrs. Bob.

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

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Modeled after a popular collection of stories known as "Brother Gardener's Lime Kiln Club," the plot features three suitors vying to win the hand of the local beauty.

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.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lime Kiln Club Field Day perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Alexander Butler

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

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

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: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

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

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Dir: Edward LeSaint

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.