Essential Cult Cinema Mirroring the Impact of Whose Wife?: Cult Guide

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

A man and two women suspected of stealing bonds are traced to a country hotel. While one of them, Judith, is out riding, the other two, Walter and Vera, are arrested. During a storm Judith is injured falling off her horse and Boone Pendleton comes to her rescue. Soon the river becomes impassable, and they are trapped in Boone's cabin and fall in love, but because of her plight, Judith refuses Boone's marriage proposal. After the river recedes, detectives come for her; she escapes, then aids Walter and Vera in breaking out of jail. They take refuge at Walter's country estate, where the detectives intercept them again. It is then revealed that Judith is Walter's sister and Vera his wife, the theft was his first offense and Judith and Vera were helping him escape punishment. When Walter returns the bonds, charges are dropped, and Judith is free to marry Boone.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

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

A girl's father cannot afford a train ticket, so he ships his daughter by Wells Fargo & Co. Express. He loses his money to a villain and cannot claim his "shipment." The villain attempts to claim her, but the Wells Fargo agent foils the plot and claims her himself.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

Gertie Jones, known among other thieves as "The Chatterbox" because she talks to herself while she works, becomes a rich woman's French maid after learning about her employer's $40,000 diamond necklace. To cover up the scratches left by her tools after she unsuccessfully tries to open the safe containing the necklace, Gertie telephones the police to report an attempted burglary. Jimmy Hartigan, a famous thief, arrives and after he and Gertie fall in love at first sight, he is arrested. After Gertie helps Jimmy escape from prison, they move to New York and continue their illegal endeavors until they see Gertie's sister, whose time in prison has left her consumptive, and a famous crook, now a broken wreck, and decide to go straight for each other's sake. As the "Harts," they buy a farm in New Jersey after foiling the plans of a crooked real estate promoter. When Kersey, a detective on Jimmy's trail, arrives, Jimmy and Gertie pretend to save him from two escaped convicts. The grateful detective, believing that the "Harts" have reformed, refuses to recognize them as the "Hartigans."

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

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

Fearing former suitor James Armstrong, Louise Newbold accompanies her husband William on a trip to the Colorado Rockies. While riding a mountain trail, Louise and her horse fall over a high cliff. Her injuries are so severe that she begs her husband to kill her to end her suffering, and, out of love, he does so--and blames Armstrong for being the instrument that drove Louise to take the dangerous trip. Five years later, Armstrong meets Enid Maitland and falls in love with her, and they go on a camping trip with several acquaintances. While out fishing, Enid is caught in a sudden violent storm and is rescued by a mountain man: William Newbold, who has become a recluse. But the snow imprisons them in his camp for the winter. The spring thaw brings Armstrong and others searching for Enid, and Newbold recognizes Armstrong as his old enemy.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

Hugon, a Canadian backwoodsman who is respected for his strength both of limb and of character, falls in love with Marie even though she has another sweetheart, a young man named Gabriel. Realizing that Marie favors Gabriel, Hugon good-naturedly offers to help the boy develop muscles and stamina but soon abandons the hopeless task. Meanwhile, Roque and his group of crooked surveyors have made plans to swindle the woodsman out of his property. Hugon's discovery of the plot leads to a brutal fight in which he is seriously injured. Deeply ashamed, he hides himself in a lonely cabin. Seeking to console Hugon, Marie reminds him of the strength of the spider, which continually rebuilds its broken web. Gabriel proposes to Marie but later backs out, and she, realizing her love for Hugon, builds a home with him on his restored property.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

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

Robert Wainwright, arriving in the Argentine Republic to look after his father's business, finds himself in a hotbed of revolution. Stopping at the home of Don Arana, foreign minister to Rosas, the tyrant, he meets and falls in love with Bonita, Don Arana's niece. Bonita favors the rebels and through Wainwright's love for her, wins him to their cause. He communicates with General Urguiza, the rebel leader, but the messenger is intercepted by Tirzo, Rosas' spy. As Tirzo also aspires to the hand of Bonita, he schemes to get Wainwright out of the way, and insinuatingly suggests that he leave the country at once. Wainwright arranges for passage on the first ship leaving for the north, but contrives to escape, after the vessel leaves port. He returns to Don Arana's home, meets Bonita and acquaints her with his plan to join the rebels. She makes him a present of Mephisto, a wonderful horse, and suggests he change his name to Alvarez. Wainwright, now a rebel under the name of Captain Alvarez, so distinguishes himself that he becomes the scourge of the Federals. He is commissioned by General Urguiza to get in communication with Don Arana, who is secretly in sympathy with the rebels, and arrange for the capture of a convoy of a million in currency dispatched to the Federal forces. Captain Alvarez and Don Arana are arranging for the delivery of the convoy when the house is surrounded by the Federals through the work of Tirzo. Captain Alvarez is captured and led off a prisoner. Tirzo remains and promises Bonita to save Alvarez's life is she will marry him. She is about to consent when word comes that the prisoner has escaped. Alvarez returns to Bonita's home, fearful that harm has befallen her, and promises to return again at midnight to make sure of her further safety. Alvarez returns to his command, and captures the million in currency and is on his way to keep his midnight appointment with his sweetheart, when he hears Tirzo plotting with a band of gypsies to kidnap Bonita. Alvarez arrives at Don Arana's first, waits for Tirzo, who comes alone, and in a fight kills the spy whose body is carried off by the gypsies. A band of Federals intercept them, recognize Tirzo, and rush to Don Arana's house, where they capture Alvarez, and he is to be shot at sunrise. In the meantime the Federals are defeated and Rosas, the tyrant, flees for his life. Alvarez, by a trick, induces the Federals guarding him to flee. The rebel forces arrive opportunely, and all ends happily in a picture emblematic of the birth of a new republic.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

While attending college in Washington, D.C., Yuki Onda, the daughter of a Japanese samurai, meets and falls in love with Pierre Le Beau, a diplomatic attaché. At the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, Pierre is sent to Japan as attaché to the Australian ambassador. When Yuki's father discovers his daughter's romance with a foreigner, he becomes enraged and betroths her to Prince Hagane for political reasons; being an obedient daughter, Yuki agrees to the match. During a political meeting, Yuki's husband commands her to see that nobody enters the house. During her vigil, Pierre arrives, half-crazed with fever and the desire to see his beloved. Out of revenge, he steals an important document from Hagane; believing that his wife has acted in dishonor, Hagane agrees to trade Yuki for the paper. Worn out with grief and struggling against her love for Pierre, Yuki kills herself, and Hagane delivers the body to her true love.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

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

Charles Howard, a young artist in " In The Folly's Trail, " is induced by a friend to attend a week-end party, given by a millionaire social bounder named Max Goldberg. At this event he joins in the general round of elaborate dinners, masquerade dances and the like. He meets a girl singer named Lita O' Farrell, a friend of Goldberg's. The host of the occasion really loves Lita, but she is uncertain of her regard for him. Lita is attracted to Howard and he to her. Though both are doubtful of the outcome, they marry. Howard cannot endure Lita's lack of breeding and she resents his cold, superior attitude. They quarrel frequently and she offers him a chance for a divorce by deliberately going back to Goldberg. Howard, stung by his jealousy, follows, threatening to kill Goldberg. The latter assures him no harm has come to Lita. He finds her and she tells him of her coming child. They determine to make another effort to live happily together. - The Moving Picture World, 1920.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

Poor Molly O'Toole takes a job as housekeeper at the country home of wealthy Mrs. J. Van Ranselear Todd. Arriving at "Castle Crags," Molly is mistaken by the villagers for Mrs. Todd, and decides to continue the masquerade, thus attracting the attentions of Captain Hancock, her wealthy neighbor. Meanwhile Mrs. Todd's roguish son Algernon has purchased a donkey and cart from peddler Joe Holmes and is traveling through the country when he arrives at Castle Crags to discover Molly masquerading as his mother. Deciding not to reveal his own identity or expose Molly, Algernon takes a job as her chauffeur. The two fall in love and Algernon begs Molly to marry him, but she is reluctant to part with the captain's millions. A series of events makes Molly believe that her chauffeur has become a forger on her account, however, and she realizes her love for him. She resolves to give up the captain, but at that point Mrs. Todd arrives, claims Algernon as her son and welcomes Molly as her future daughter-in-law.

Dir: Rollin S. Sturgeon

How the lust for power influences and drives lives and destiny.