Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of Wives of Men: Cult Guide

Dir: John M. Stahl

Young Brierly struggles to save his father, Major Brierly, from the clutches of alcohol after the Great War. At the same time, he prepares Major Brierly's horse, which served bravely with the Major at the front, for the Kentucky Derby.

Dir: John M. Stahl

A bitter outcast named Garnett runs a road house of low character called "The Owl" in backwoods Alabama, his only friend is Dr. Hamilton, and he keeps the secret from his old blind mother who believes he had a noble death. One night, the Doctor intervenes when the KKK tries to hang Garnett. Hamilton tells his patient turned girlfriend, Faith, that he must find Garnett's wife before his rampant illness kills him. He finds that Faith is in fact the missing wife, and he has betrayed his old friend.

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

Dir: John M. Stahl

Elliot Worthington falls in love with Myra, the maid in his sister's household. Myra is dismissed; Elliot finds her, proposes marriage, and returns home with his new bride. She is snubbed by his relatives and shocked by the hypocrisy of his wealthy friends. Disillusioned, she runs away: Elliot follows and saves her from being hit by a train when her foot gets caught in a switch.

Dir: John M. Stahl

James Brunton's wife, Molly, believing she has found her husband to be unfaithful, leaves him without asking an explanation. The 'other woman,' however, is Brunton's sister-in-law, whom he is supporting. In his search for his wife Brunton is hurt and temporarily blinded in an automobile accident. He is carried to the very house in which his wife has secreted herself. She nurses him back to health without his recognizing her until, when his sight is restored, the sister-in-law appears on the scene, an explanation is made, and Brunton and his wife are reconciled.

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

Dir: John M. Stahl

On the day of their wedding, a groom is shocked when his bride reveals that she is the mother of a young child.

Dir: John M. Stahl

Antoine de Tillois leaves his puritanical wife and in Paris becomes known as King Toto, leader of the bohemian set. Their daughter, Louise, spends 8 months of each year with her mother in Blois and 4 in Paris with her father, her sole concern being to see them reunited. Although Louise has fallen in love with Robert Le Rivarol, she vows not to marry until she accomplishes her aim; consequently, Toto pretends to reform and announces he is giving up his Paris life to return to his wife. Merinville, her accountant, and his nephew--both after Louise's money--discover that Toto has been corresponding with the Countess de Sano, his latest mistress; they try to blackmail Toto and scheme to get an annulment of Louise's marriage, but Toto thwarts their plot. When the countess absconds with her husband's secretary, Toto and his wife are happily reconciled.

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

Dir: John M. Stahl

Comedy about a negligent housewife who restyles herself as a flapper and almost loses her husband when an admiring friend is quite taken with her new appearance.

Dir: John M. Stahl

After a foreword introduces the question of whether women are temperamentally suited for jury duty, young shipping clerk Jim O'Neil is found holding a revolver over his dead employer, Edward Knox. Celebrated novelist Grace Norton, selected to be on the jury at Jim's trial, becomes New York's first female juror. Although Jim pleads innocence, he refuses to elaborate until his sweetheart Helen testifies that Knox raped her when she pleaded for Jim, who was fired unjustly, to be reinstated. Jim testifies that he intended to kill Knox but found him dead already. During an angry all-night deliberation, the jury remains deadlocked 11-to-1, with Grace voting against a guilty verdict. In the morning, when she learns that her sister Edith has died, Grace confesses to killing Knox for seducing Edith and failing to honor his promise of marriage. After the foreman reminds the jury of their oath to keep their proceedings secret, they agree not to reveal Grace's story, and vote to acquit Jim.

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

Dir: John M. Stahl

A wealthy industrialist's wife gets into a big argument with him; to cool off, she goes on an ocean trip. He thinks she's left him for good, so he marries another woman. When his first wife returns, complications ensue.

Dir: John M. Stahl

On the day of her wedding to Jimmie, Mary finds she has not lost her affection for another sweetheart, Joe. A confrontation arises when Jimmie discovers that Joe has come along on their honeymoon.