The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of Who Cares?: Cult Guide

Dir: Walter Edwards

After discovering her husband Roger has been unfaithful to her, Angela De Haven sets out to make all men pay for his deceit. Roger, despairing of ever winning back his wife, sails for the South Sea islands and is lost during the voyage. Meanwhile, Angela establishes a salon where prominent men vie for her attentions. One of the members of her court, Bragdon Brant, controls the Bob Cat mine, but not the railroad extending to it which is owned by Bob Spalding. Brant sends Angela West to buy the controlling interest in the railroad and she meets Bob, who falls in love with her. Angela refuses to marry him and flees after securing control of the road through Bob's partner, Durant. She returns to New York, intent upon ruining Brant, but is prevented from carrying out her plans when Bob appears and forces her to realize the destructive path that her life has taken. Angela then restores the railroad shares to Bob, and thus reconciled, they travel West to spend the rest of their lives together.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Paul Boudeaux shares lodgings with Richard Landers, his business partner, and Richard's young wife Matilda. Paul and Richard are in deep financial trouble, but when Paul's wealthy uncle, Batiste Boudeaux, comes to visit for a night, Matilda suddenly is inspired with a plan to save the business. Knowing that Uncle Batiste will give Paul $50,000 if the young man marries, Matilda introduces herself as Paul's wife, which greatly pleases the old bachelor. Complications arise, however, when Batiste decides to stay for a month, and the situation gets worse when early one morning, he sees Paul sleeping on the sofa and Richard stealing away from Matilda's room. Because Paul falls in love with Batiste's nurse Rose, the partners finally get their money, and even the old uncle gives up his bachelorhood by marrying fashion model Mme. Julie.

Dir: Walter Edwards

After her family dies in the jungle, Ollante is raised by Brazilian Indians, and, from her rugged lifestyle, she grows into a woman of uncommon strength and courage. Then, she rescues Ridgeway Webb, an explorer lost in the wilderness, and he soon discovers, through papers left on Ollante by her parents, that she is worth a fortune. As a result, the unscrupulous Ridgeway starts courting Ollante, and after she has fallen in love with him, he marries her and brings her to New York. At a society party, however, which Ridgeway turns into a drunken orgy, Ollante hears her husband boast of his cunning in catching a millionaire for a wife. Suddenly aware of his motives, Ollante takes off her American high society outfit, puts on her jungle costume, and strangles Ridgeway.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Bright young novelist Mabel Vere is engaged to Gerald Wantage, a prig who angrily objects when she advertises for a husband in order to elicit ideas for her new book. Mabel's roommate, Maud Bray, a physical culture expert, frightens away the less desirable suitors, while the writer responds to the more interesting letters, and soon becomes embroiled in a number of adventures. One of her applicants is a butler, whose employer, Noel Corcoran, also has answered the ad. Noel informs Mabel that Gerald has bet the other members of his club that she will answer no more letters. Angered, she responds to several particularly lurid ones, after which she and Gerald break off their engagement. Having fallen in love with Mabel, Noel proposes and is accepted.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Foster Borrum is the wealthiest man in the town of Norwalk. He practically owns everything. He has won his position by merciless grinding and is regarded by the villagers with fear and contempt. A stern man, with only one softening influence in his life, his wife, whom he idolizes. The wife dies and Borrum turns on the world with added bitterness and hatred. He is living a life of dreary isolation when one day a visitor steps off the train at the station, a little girl; also alone in the world; who has been tagged to her destination in the search of a relative who has long since disappeared. The villagers are too poor to adopt the child. In a cynical mood Borrum takes possession of the girl. Ivy Marten, and installs her in his home. Ivy, aching for sympathy, meets with no response from the austere man, whose treatment of her borders on brutality. Exaggerated reports of this reach the authorities, and Borrum is haled before them. Ivy, who loves the old man in spite of his coldness, is the prime witness for the defense and her loyal support of her guardian wins the day. A change comes over the attitude of Borrum towards the child and the world in general and with a softened heart he strives to make life happier for the orphan and for the hitherto despised inhabitants of the poverty stricken village.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

After building a financial empire, Frederick Mallery feels chained to his wife Winnie, who stood by him during the years of poverty. As a result, he offers Warren Woods, a down-and-out former playboy, $50,000 to seduce Winnie, so that he will have an excuse for a divorce. Warren works hard at his job, but instead of weakening Winnie's devotion to Frederick, he himself falls in love with her. Needing the money, however, he boasts to Frederick of having seduced Winnie. Suddenly, Frederick becomes jealous, and after calling off the deal with Warren, he goes to Winnie and tells her that he loves her.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Paddy O'Hara is the star reporter on the London Blade. Rumors of impending warfare between two Balkan principalities reach London, and Paddy is dispatched to the seat of action. Before leaving he comes across the photograph of a military officer. Count Ivan of Darbaya, and his niece, the Lady Maryska. Two weeks later Paddy reaches Tarozza, the seaport capital of Ideria, and finds that the army there is preparing to invade Darbaya. While waiting at Tarozza he forms the acquaintance of a Captain Raoul du Plessis, of the Iderian Huzzars. Raoul is charged with an important mission to Darbaya, and carries on his person documents to be delivered at headquarters. In order to obtain these and delay the Captain's departure, a spy insults him and forces a duel. Du Plessis, who chooses Paddy secretly transfer the documents to Paddy, who leave Tarozza disguised in the uniform of Captain Raoul. Although the spies are hot on his trail, Paddy reaches a castle perched high on the cliffs of Darbaya. The castle is deserted, as its men folk are fighting in the valley and its women have been sent away to a place of safety. One inmate alone is left, the Lady Maryska, the girl of his dreams. Maryska sees in Paddy an intruder in the hated uniform of Ideria and treats him with scorn. At the time of the meeting the Iderians are sweeping all before them, and Colonel Ivan retreats to the castle. The Colonel's one anxiety is to get his niece away from the danger zone. As the castle is about to fall into the hands of the enemy, the only way to escape is to place her in the care of Paddy. By a slight alteration, the passport is made to read Patrick O'Hara and wife. Circumstances make it imperative for Paddy to go through the marriage ceremony with Maryska, who only consents on the condition that she is to be freed from the marital yoke as soon as they reach safety. Passing through innumerable adventures and hardships the couple at last gain the frontier. Paddy sends his dispatch to the Blade and while dictating to the operator leaves Maryska asleep under shelter. The message sent, he returns just in time to see Maryska seized and borne away in an aeroplane by emissaries of the enemy. Paddy returns to London. When all hope is lost, he receives a summons to a foreign embassy, where a proposition is made to him to relinquish his wife in order that she may wed a great personage. He is assured that a divorce can easily be arranged and is offered a handsome monetary bribe and other considerations. O'Hara refuses the proposition, and his refusal is overheard by Maryska, who is hiding in the council chamber. Maryska has learned to love the gallant Irishman during the stormy days of battle and flight, and convinces him that the hurried wedding in the Balkans will stand good for all time.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Jane is a comely little slavey in a fishermen's village. The only two friends she has among all the inhabitants are David Holden, the aged keeper of the lighthouse, "The Eye of the Night," and Rob Benson, a young fisher lad whom she has loved with all her heart. Rob and Jane were to be married as soon as the lad could save enough to build them a little nest by the sea. But then the war broke out and Rob was the first to volunteer. Jane whispered a secret to him the day he was to leave that all but made him back out, but, like everyone else, Rob thought the war was to last only a few days and then he would be back in plenty of time, but he wasn't, and one day a nameless little waif was born in one of the big hospitals in London. In her despair Jane turned to the only friend she had, aged David Holden, and determined to ask him to take her baby and be its father. David Holden not only takes in the baby but the mother as well, to the resulting indignation of the narrow-minded townspeople, who first demand that Jane be driven out. When David refuses, they manage to secure his dismissal as keeper of the light. And so David, with Jane and the baby, move into the little cottage David has built from his savings and prepare to live out their lives. While readjusting their lives in the new home, Jane discovers that her mother was David Holden's wife and that her only protector was really her father. But David Holden's wife had run away and left him for another man years and years before and he does not give the girl, his daughter, a chance to make known her discovery to him, simply dismissing the subject of the woman the girl knew to be her mother with a word and a gesture. But Jane cherishes the secret. War comes close to the little hamlet in which David Holden and his two wards live. One night aeroplanes fly over it, dropping bombs as they sped past. One bomb wrecks the lighthouse. All the village knew that an army transport bearing wounded was making for their port. When David sees the lighthouse wrecked, he determines to guide the ship through the narrow entrance to the harbor at all costs. He deliberately sets fire to his cottage to serve as a beacon to guide the mariners. The boat reaches the harbor safely, thanks to David, and the next morning, among the first of the wounded to come from the vessel is Rob Benson. His reunion with Jane follows immediately and the tardy marriage ceremony is immediately performed. And then Jane, her own name cleared, tells David Holden that she is his daughter.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Wealthy John Steele has a handsome young son, Frank, on whom he pins his hopes. But riches lead Frank not into social standing and duty, but into depravity, drug-addiction, criminal activity, and finally to tragedy.

Dir: Walter Edwards

After years on the international crime circuit, "Silver Jim" Farrel shares a comfortable and honest suburban life with Marjory, his sister, until word comes that an old friend from his thieving days is in desperate need of cash. To save his bankrupt friend from jail, Jim reluctantly executes a jewel heist, being careful not to involve Marjory or his sweetheart, who know nothing of his past, in the scheme. When Edgar Seymour, the son of the robbed jeweler, attends Marjory's wedding, Jim prevents him from exposing him on the spot only by jabbing a gun into his back during the proceedings. After the ceremony, Jim returns the jewels as promised, avoiding reprisals from the senior Seymour by reminding him of the time when he swindled Jim and caused him to serve time in prison for someone else's crime. With the help of a sliding trick door and a conveniently placed safe, "Silver Jim" escapes police detection and returns to his quiet, honest existence.