The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of Wolves of the Night: Cult ...

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

The story of Cleopatra, the fabulous queen of Egypt, and the epic romances between her and the greatest men of Rome, Julius Caesar and Antony.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

After a love triangle results death, St. Elmo falls from grace and is eventually redeemed in this now lost silent film based on the best selling novel by Augusta Jane Wilson.

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

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Lolette (Theda Bara), an exotic and spirited peasant girl lives In the small Spanish village of Juanguera. Although ardently courted by the native swains, and particularly a bandit called The Tiger, Lolette prefers Maurice Tabor, a French artist who has come to Juanguera to paint. Because he refuses to take her to Paris, Lolette accepts a gift of stolen jewels from The Tiger and follows Maurice to France. With Lolette as his model, Maurice paints brilliantly, and soon she becomes a Paris sensation. One evening, Lolette performs a Spanish dance on stage, and the next day, she signs contracts with a number of impresarios, accepting advance payment from all of them. Fearing her arrest, Maurice urges her to accompany him back to Spain, but The Tiger attacks their coach and imprisons them. At a feast held in her honor, however, Lolette urges The Tiger to drink, and when he is unconscious, she and Maurice escape.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Francesca Brabaut, who married an artist against her father's advice, regrets her decision when her husband Antoine, in debt, sends her to his misanthropic uncle to plead for money. After Francesca refuses the uncle's offer to change his will if she will have sex with him, the uncle, declaring that he has misjudged women, decides to leave money to provide for Francesca and her child but dies of heart failure first. Antoine inherits a castle and title and deserts Francesca. Later, while posing in Florence for an American artist, Francesca meets the artist's sweetheart, American heiress Cecily Blaine, whose mother wants her to marry someone with a title. When Francesca learns that Antoine plans to marry Cecily, she threatens to expose him, but he convinces Cecily that Francesca and the artist are married. Cecily then consents to marry Antoine. After Francesca and the artist are sent to the galleys unjustly for theft, Antoine is exposed. When he tries to kidnap their child, Francesca shoots him, whereupon Cecily marries the artist.

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

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Mary Doone (Theda Bara) lives in a tenement parish house run by Pastor Elliott Clifford (A. H. Van Buren). Mary joints the front as a nurse, and meets war correspondent Lloyd Stanley (Stuart Holmes), whom she had known from London. Stanley is about to take advantage of her when their hospital tent is bombed. Mary finds the body of a young girl in the tent. The young girl is Ethel Wardley (Madeleine Lee Nard), who is the niece of Lady Clifford (Lucia Moore), mother of Elliott Clifford. Mary assumes Ethel's identity and is received by Lady Clifford as her niece. Elliott falls in love with Mary. Stanley returns to London with Ethel, who has recovered from her wounds. Mary confesses what she has done, and despite Lady Clifford's pleas for her to stay, she returns to the parish house to work with children.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

The story tells of the maneuvering, the machinations and the subtle intrigue of Lady Dolly, Vere Herbert's mother, who is anxious to make an advantageous marriage for her daughter. In doing so she eventually schemes away her child's happiness by marrying her to Prince Zuroff. Some time before she was introduced to the Prince, Vere met and fell in love with Lucien Correze, an opera singer, who became attracted to her. Told by her mother that she must sever her friendship with the singer and marry the Russian Prince, Vere heartbroken, leaves Correze, and her wedding to the Prince is a social event. Soon after her marriage Vere discovers that the Prince is harboring his mistress, Duchess De Sonnaz, under the same roof. A scene follows, after which the Prince banishes his wife, together with her faithful German nurse, to a Russian monastery. Shortly after her incarceration she is followed to the retreat by Correze and Lord Jura, the latter a friend of her mother's. Correze entreats Vere to leave the place and go with him. She is about to succumb to his impassioned plea when the Prince enters the room. Words are followed by a duel in which the Prince and Lord Jura are both killed. The Princess, free, marries Correze.

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

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Camille is a courtesan in Paris. She falls deeply in love with a young man of promise, Armand Duval. When Armand's father begs her not to ruin his hopes of a career and position by marrying Armand, she acquiesces and leaves her lover. However, when poverty and terminal illness overwhelm her, Camille discovers that Armand has not lost his love for her.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Elsie Drummond, the "Vixen," a spoiled nymphomaniac, takes pleasure in wreaking havoc on her sweet sister Helen. When Helen becomes enamored of Martin Stevens, a Wall Street businessman, Elsie turns on her considerable charms and woos him away. After Charlie Drummond, Elsie's shiftless brother, steals from Stevens and causes a scandal, Stevens is ruined financially and Elsie promptly leaves him. Through deliberate manipulation, Elsie then steals Knowles Murray, a young statesman, from Helen and succeeds in marrying him. Elsie and Murray move to Paris, forcing Helen to care for their alcoholic father. Six years later, Murray is called to Washington, D.C. and Elsie, now the mother of two children, renews her acquaintance with Martin Stevens, who has regained his wealth and position. As Murray is about to catch Elsie in Stevens' arms, Helen, to protect the children, supplies Elsie with an escape and an alibi. While Elsie continues in her deceptive ways, Stevens, finally wise to the Vixen, marries Helen.

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

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Bara is unusually cast as a nearly virginal nurse and actress. She does manage to get one man to blow his brains out before she reforms and marries an Episcopal priest.

Dir: J. Gordon Edwards

Lewis Victor of the French Foreign Legion is actually Bertie Cecil, a British nobleman hiding from dishonour for a crime actually committed by his brother. He is loved by Cigarette, a camp follower, but he only has eyes for another. The commandant hates him, and Victor is constantly placed in danger in war-torn Algeria. Then his brother arrives, and with him, a chance to clear his name.