The Cult Collection Inspired by the Vision of Why Smith Left Home: Cult Guide

Dir: Donald Crisp

A young woman, disheveled and greatly distressed, stops criminologist Marcel Levington on the street and begs him to find a doctor for a man who is dying inside a nearby house of ill repute. Marcel and his friend, Dr. Rogers, enter the house and find the man, a prominent lawyer, dead, his heart pierced by a hatpin that the doctor recognizes as the one he recently gave his daughter Toinette. Rogers announces that the man has died of heart failure, returns home and demands an explanation from his daughter, who explains that she was lured into the house and attacked by the man. Realizing that Toinette killed the lawyer to defend her honor, Rogers and Marcel agree to protect her. Marcel retrieves Toinette's pocketbook from the proprietor of the house, Mrs. Clifton, who had planned to blackmail the girl, and then returns to Toinette, with whom he has fallen in love.

Dir: Donald Crisp

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

Jules Lemaire, a happy-go-lucky French-Canadian lumberman, arrives at the Nemo lumber camp carrying a baby. His love for the child wins him the respect of Joy Farnsworth, the daughter of the camp's foreman, but this arouses the jealousy of Big Jim Burgess, the camp bully. Burgess incites the men to strike when the delivery of their paychecks is delayed because of a storm, whereupon Jules offers to cross the river and retrieve the payroll. Burgess volunteers to accompany Jules, but after their departure, he ties the lumberman up and attempts to torture him into giving up the order of delivery for the money. In the meantime, a stranger appears at the camp and tells Joy that Jules had been caring for his child while he was in England. Joy and the stranger rescue Jules and turn Burgess over to the foreman, after which Joy proposes to the French-Canadian.

Dir: Donald Crisp

On the estate of Senora Moreno in Southern California, the senora's adopted daughter Ramona lives. She falls in love with Alessandro, an Indian of noble heritage. When her adoptive mother forbids their marriage, Ramona Alessandro elope, only to find bigotry, misfortune, and finally tragedy wherever they turn.

Dir: Donald Crisp

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

Lewis Vickers accidentally kills a man and goes to Central America. Here he meets Robert Lee, who bears a remarkable resemblance to him. Lee is a worthless young chap whose father is anxious to have him return to the United States. On his death bed Lee turns his papers over to Vickers and begs him to assume his name. Arriving in New York, Vickers goes to the Lee home as Robert Lee, and discovers that the dead man has willed him a badly blotted past that includes a wife and two children and a large collection of debts. He also finds a beautiful adopted daughter in the Lee household and promptly falls in love with her. The only way he can stand any chance of winning the girl is by telling the truth about himself. The arrival of his undesirable family and several of its friends and connections helps to bring out the truth, and the picture ends with a runaway marriage between Vickers and the adopted daughter.

Dir: Donald Crisp

Giuseppe Franchini lives with his little daughter Francesca and pet bear Bruno on the Italian coast. One day, Giuseppe sees a shipwrecked man offshore and swims to his rescue, but in doing so, he is carried out to sea. Upon his return, he finds that his wife has died of shock at the news of his drowning, and the stranger has taken away the little girl. Years later, Giuseppe travels to America with Bruno where they are arrested for invading an apiary on the Vandergrift estate. Giuseppe is befriended by Vandergrift's daughter Adelaide, but Bruno is sent to jail for his crimes. To pay Bruno's fine, Giuseppe takes a job in a roadhouse owned by John Slade. Here, he learns of Slade's plans to smear Adelaide's fiancé, Craig Winton, the reform candidate for mayor. Giuseppe presents proof of Slade's corruption to Adelaide, who turns it over to her father. When Giuseppe meets Vandergrift, he recognizes him as the man he rescued, but, realizing that Adelaide is happy in her life, he leaves town without letting her know that he is her real father.

Dir: Donald Crisp

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

Prologue: Conrad LaGrange proposes marriage to Mary Gibson. She refuses him and marries Aaron King and they welcome son Aaron King, Jr. John Willard, who does not approve of the intimacy between his sister Myra, and James Rutledge, provokes a quarrel with Rutledge. Thinking he has killed him, Willard goes West. A baby is born to Myra, who does not know that Rutledge has a wife. Mrs. Rutledge learns of it. Crazed with jealousy, she seeks Myra, throws acid in her face, marring her for life; then commits suicide. With Myra's permission, Rutledge takes the baby to raise with his son, James Rutlidge, Jr., and shares his wealth equally between them. Myra refuses his offers of money, and writes to John Willard, her brother, asking for help. In California, he holds up a mail stage to get money for her fare West. Willard is arrested. Myra, ignorant of this, goes to Graymont, California. Not finding her brother, she wanders into the mountains and to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Andres, who take her in. She is like a mother to Sybil, Andres' only child. Years pass. Aaron King, in financial difficulties and disgrace, dies. LaGrange, who has prospered, pays some of Mrs. King's debts and again asks her to marry him. She refuses, saying her life belongs to her boy. Mrs. King, sacrifices all to keep Aaron, her son, now a young man, in a Paris art school. Graduating with high honors, he receives word that his mother is ill, and rushes home in time to see her die. The Story: Twenty-five years have elapsed. Aaron King, Jr. leaves for the West. On the same train are Gertrude Taine; her husband Edward Taine, a wreck many years her senior; and Mrs. Taine's stepdaughter Louise Taine. They are met by James Rutledge, Jr. Myra, who now lives in Fairlands, recognizes Mrs. Taine and Rutledge. King becomes acquainted with LaGrange. Friendship springs up between the pair. King is commissioned to paint Mrs. Taine's portrait. He and LaGrange take a cottage next, to Sybil and Myra. Rutledge annoys Sybil with his attentions. King and LaGrange meet Sybil. Mrs. Taine becomes infatuated with King. John Willard (now known as John Marston) escapes from prison. He meets Rutledge, who befriends him and bides him in a mountain cabin. Mrs. Taine is pleased with the portrait. As King contrasts Sybil with Mrs. Taine, he sees the latter as a designing soul in a beautiful body. Refusing to let her have the portrait, he asks her to pose again. Thinking she has infatuated King, she consents. He also paints Sybil's portrait. Mrs. Taine gives a reception in honor of King and LaGrange. She tries to influence King by causing Sybil to play her violin as one of the paid performers. Mr. Taine collapses in the midst of a speech and is carried off, dying. Mrs. Taine, visiting King's studio, finds him absent. Sybil comes in. Mrs. Taine, bringing in the fact that Sybil was up in the mountains with Myra while LaGrange and King were on a camping trip in the mountains, convinces Sybil that the world thinks she is the artist's mistress. Sybil stops long enough to write a note for Myra, and then rides away. Myra tells King of Sybil's disappearance. He follows her, and enlists the aid of Brian Oakley, the forest ranger. Rutlidge learns of Sybil's departure. By threatening Marston with exposure, he forces him to kidnap Sybil. Marston takes her to a cabin. Oakley, King and a posse of men search the mountains for her. King goes to Granite Peak, but Rutledge gets there first. Rutledge makes the proposition that they throw down their guns and fight it out. As Rutledge is about to throw King over the cliff. Marston appears with Sybil, who begs him to save King. He shoots Rutledge, who topples over the cliff. Then Marston disappears. King and Sybil go back to town. Sybil has discovered that she loves King and that he loves her. Mrs. Taine goes to the studio. She sees herself on the canvas as King sees her, and flies into a rage. She threatens to blast King's career and to ruin Sybil's reputation. LaGrange, overhearing, brings Myra in and has her tell her story. As Mrs. Taine listens, she bares her shoulder, showing a scar which identifies her as Myra's daughter. LaGrange threatens if she ever speaks ill of Sybil or King to publish the story broadcast Mrs. Taine retreats. Later, Sybil, learning from LaGrange that King has completed his masterpiece, goes to the studio. King takes her in his arms.

Dir: Donald Crisp

Chuck McCarthy, an intrepid young ironworker, longs to become an actor, despite the protests of his girl, Molly O'Connors, and his family. In dashing up the frame of a building to catch actress Bijou Lamour's runaway pet monkey, he attracts the attention of the studio managers, who make him a stuntman. For a time Charles is happy executing life-risking feats and strutting around in new clothes, although the company laughs at him behind his back. When leading man Marmaduke X. Caruthers refuses to perform a particularly dangerous stunt in a war film, Chuck doubles for him and is seriously injured. The studio manager, who recognizes in the incident an opportunity to promote his star, quickly wraps Marmaduke in bandages and sends him to the hospital, while Chuck is secretly removed through the back door. The next day, the Filmcraft Company sends Chuck a check for $1,000 to keep quiet about the accident. He and Molly use the money on their honeymoon to Niagara Falls.

Dir: Donald Crisp

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

Marcellini, a successful wine dealer, has a sudden heart attack and dies. His will leaves his entire fortune to his only kin, a husband and wife who operate a small farm. Guido, the husband, agrees against his better judgment to move on to the Marcellino estate. Before he knows it he is up to his neck in marriage troubles, people trying to swindle him out of his inheritance and blackmail.

Dir: Donald Crisp

Wealthy young bachelor Stanley Jordan attends a Red Cross Benefit at the country club, where he meets and falls in love with Betty Lovering and unwittingly offends social leader Mrs. Vandergraft. Discovering that the Vandergrafts have initiated a campaign to ostracize him from the club, Jordan, incensed, decides to get even: he disguises himself as a Russian Countess and returns to the club, where he is wined and dined. As a member of society, he is welcomed into the homes of the rich, where he proceeds to steal their valuables and donate them to the Red Cross Fund. The series of thefts alarms the neighborhood, and a detective is hired. Just as the detective is closing in on the Countess, it is announced that the Russian has been a victim of assault and is lying on her deathbed. Betty, concerned, calls on the Countess, only to discover that she is none other than Stanley Jordan, the man she loves.

Dir: Donald Crisp

Mr. Kendall, a wealthy man who had sent his infant son to a home after the death of his mother at birth, decides that it is time for his son to come home. On his carriage ride to the father he has never seen, however, the boy mysteriously disappears. At the same time, a woman deposits a little boy on the cart of Italian junk man Niccolo Darini, and then disappears. Niccolo becomes strongly attached to the waif, and although his neighbors advise him to take the child to the police, he refuses. Kendall posts a reward notice in the paper for the return of his son, and when Niccolo's rival for the hand of the beautiful Nita Lapi reads the notice, he tells the police of Niccolo's ward. Niccolo is forced to give up his little charge, which breaks his heart. However, the Kendall's rightful heir is found when a beggar, run over by a car, confesses on his death bed that the child with him is really the Kendall boy. Niccolo's beloved ward is then returned to him, along with a check from Kendall for $5,000 dollars. Niccolo's happiness is made complete when Nita agrees to marry him.