(archive footage)
This insightful documentary features some of the major and most beautiful actresses to grace the silver screen. It shows how the movie industry changed its depiction of sex and actresses' portrayal of sex from the silent movie era to the present. Classic scenes are shown from the silent movie 'True Heart Susie,' starring Lillian Gish, to 'Love Me Tonight' (1932), blending sex and sophistication, starring Jeanette MacDonald (pre-Nelson Eddy), and to Elizabeth Taylor in 'A Place in the Sun' (1951), plus much , much more.
Herself (archive footage)
In this short film, an elderly cameraman and his camera reminisce about their days shooting silent films and news stories.
Nina Olmstead
Shortly after his marriage, a millionaire begins an affair with another woman. His wife tries to win him back by starting an affair herself.
Grace Merrill
Grace Merrill works as a shill in a gambling hall. Her five roommates are even less honestly employed. One of them, Elsie Brown commits suicide because her main squeeze, Frank Norwood has left her. Elsie's small town mother comes to the city and meets Elsie's roommates. But Mother Brown's faith and purity are so compelling that the ladies of the night reform. Grace, in fact, gives up her affair with a married man -- even though she really loves him -- to go live with Mrs. Brown in the country.
Connie MacNair
Connie (Louise Glaum) is married to attorney Robert MacNair (Mahlon Hamilton). When he leaves town on a business trip, her friend from the old days, Molly May (May Hopkins), invites her to a party. Connie, who misses her old life, decides to go under an assumed name. Teddy Garrick, the host (Joseph Kilgour), makes a play for her and she burns her shoulder trying to get away from him. Dillon, a burglar who is hiding in the house (George Cooper), surreptitiously presses a gun into Connie's hand from behind a curtain. As Garrick comes toward her he is shot dead.
Natalie Storm
A young woman, Natalie Storm works in a sweatshop and struggles to support her mother and little sister, Beatrice. Their mother dies and Beatrice suffers from poverty. Because of her circumstances, Natalie rejects the marriage proposal of Tom Chandler, a self-educated mining engineer. He then leaves for South America, where he intends to make his fortune. To save her sister and herself, Natalie becomes the mistress of a wealthy Wall Street magnate, Alvin Dunning. When he publicly humiliates her, however, she becomes determined to free herself. Meanwhile, Chandler discovers a copper mine in South America and returns. He is invited to a party at Dunning's home. When he meets Natalie as Dunning's mistress he is heartbroken and abruptly leaves. Natalie is by now desperate to get away from Dunning. She then acquires enough money from a lucky stock tip to leave him.
Madame - the Leopard Woman
An epic of passion, intrigue, and espionage set in the African Jungle.
Mary Norwood
When respectable Lloyd Norwood becomes infatuated with moll Goldie Lewis, he falls into a life of debasement, which results in his being accused of the murder of gangland henchman Joe the Swell. Norwood's wife Mary, convinced of her husband's innocence, determines to clear his name. Disguising herself as a vamp and infiltrating the underworld, Mary extracts a confession from the real murderer, Pussyfoot Connor, who is duped by Mary into believing that he sees the ghost of the murdered man. Later, in order to have witnesses to the story, Mary takes a midnight dinner with gang leader Jack Frost, arousing the jealousy of Connor, who enters and accuses Frost of instigating the murder. The police, alerted to the scheme, rush in and arrest the criminals.
Herself
A Trip Through the World's Greatest Motion Picture Studios (1920) presents a fascinating glimpse into the Thomas H. Ince studios at Culver City.
Adrienne Renault
Adrienne, the queen of the Frivolity Theater, is a self-centered vamp who steals other women's husbands. Her current conquest is Phillip Overman, and when Overman's wife pleads with the vamp to free her husband, Adrienne turns a deaf ear. Daisy, a chorine, is shocked by her colleague's callousness, but Adrienne asserts that she is only being practical. When she meets Pittsburgh millionaire Dave Wallace, Adrienne falls in love and casts Overman aside. Soon after their marriage, Adrienne learns that her husband is having an affair with Daisy, who is now the reigning queen of Broadway. She pleads with Daisy to release her husband, who responds by repeating the philosophy that Adrienne had given her. Despondently boarding a boat bound for Europe, Adrienne sees the Overmans, who are now happily reunited, and realizes the shallowness of her life.
Princess Sonia / Sonia, her daughter
At a London auction, Princess Sonia bids against her husband, exiled Prince Victor, for a Corot landscape in which incriminating letters Sonia wrote are hidden, but it is bought by Michael Lanyard, suspected of being the mysterious, international thief "The Lone Wolf." After Lanyard gives Sonia the letters, she divorces Victor, marries Lanyard and dies after bearing their daughter Sonia. Years later, Sonia, who thinks she is the daughter of the Princess' maid, is found by Victor, now the leader of an underworld gang of Oriental crooks and Bolsheviks. Saying he is her father, Victor brings her to his home, hoping to entice Lanyard to make an appearance.
Mignon
Actress Mignon is the toast of Paris until she marries young American engineer John Stanley. He is commissioned to go to work in the Sahara desert, and Mignon accompanies him with their baby. But it isn't long before she is lonely and horribly bored. When a wealthy Russian, Baron Alexis, passes through the camp, he offers to take her away to Cairo. She goes with him, and he surrounds her in luxury. Years pass, but the situation does not bring her happiness.
Herself
Shows brief glimpses into the lives of movie stars of the time. Included is shots of Elsie Janis in her garden in Tarrytown, where she gives an impersonation of Mary Pickford. The film also shows the parts of the marriage ceremony between James Cruze and Marquerite Snow on January 28, 1913. The film claims this to be the first marriage to be captured on film. The film then moves on to some shots of Louise Glaum and her mother. This in turn is followed with a behind the scenes filming of a stunt involving a bathtub. The film then ends with some shots of Clara Kimball Young, Teddy (Mack Sennett's dog) and finally Marie Prevost.
Mary Thorne
Mary Thorne is the quarter-breed daughter of prospector Marshall Thorne. She has just returned from college and when a pair of hunters, Mark Hamilton and Chester Martin, come along, she decides it would be fun to dress in native garb and fool them. Both men find themselves attracted to her, even though Indians were taboo for whites in the racist days of the 1910s.
Producer
Mary Thorne is the quarter-breed daughter of prospector Marshall Thorne. She has just returned from college and when a pair of hunters, Mark Hamilton and Chester Martin, come along, she decides it would be fun to dress in native garb and fool them. Both men find themselves attracted to her, even though Indians were taboo for whites in the racist days of the 1910s.
Alouette DeLarme
The daughter of a wealthy French vintner, Justine is promised in marriage to German aristocrat Kurt Von Klassner, even though her heart belongs to Bertrand Duroc, the humble overseer of her father's estate. His pride wounded, Von Klassner murders Duroc and shifts the blame to marauding poachers.
Maargery Harding
Unknown to his proud and wealthy family, Granger Hollister marries Margery Harding, a telephone operator. Granger presents his new wife at an engagement party given for his sister Jane, but Jane's fiance, Lord Cecil Graydon, threatens to break off the betrothal unless Granger's marriage is annulled. To please his sister, Granger sacrifices Margery, who seeks work and later gives birth to a child. Following the baby's death, Margery goes West, where she befriends an old miner who later leaves her his fortune. Meanwhile, Granger becomes involved in a fraudulent mining deal, and because of George Osborne's perjured testimony, he is sent to prison for five years. When he escapes, Margery agrees to hide him and is ultimately responsible for obtaining his pardon. Granger then remarries the wife he once abandoned.
- Written by Pamela Short, from IMDB.com
Lola Dexter
A destitute young woman named Lola Dexter falls in love with Walter Cosgrove, who establishes her in a luxurious apartment and promises to marry her. After his fortune has been squandered, however, he woos and marries wealthy Edith Danfield while her sweetheart, James Ashley, is fighting in the trenches overseas. Embittered, Lola decides that from now on she will use men to her own advantage and travels to Florida to seek her first victim. She soon loses heart, however, and is about to commit suicide when Edith's invalid father, Thomas Danfield, convinces her to begin her life anew. The two become close friends and together return home, where they find that Edith, neglected and abused by Walter, has realized her mistake and is longing for James. To provide Edith with grounds for divorce, Lola allows Walter to enter her room, but when he rushes to attack her in a drunken rage, he falls down the stairs and is killed.
The Lion of the Hills is a Western film.
Neysa von Igel / Frau Meyer
Neysa von Igel, who is living with her supposed grandfather, Adolph Schmidt, loves America, although she believes herself to be German-born. Unknown to Neysa, when she was three years old, her father and mother, both American-born, were killed in Germany by Emil Koenig, who, in punishment, was sent to the United States to work in the interest of the government of the Fatherland, and who is now associated with Schmidt in his manufacturing enterprise. Koenig demands that Neysa work in behalf of Germany. She revolts and escapes to the home of David Hale, who had been her grandfather's attorney, but who is now in the service of the United States Government. Hale and Neysa are married and depart for France, where the girl again encounters Koenig, and, after many thrilling adventures, she kills him in self-defense. - Written by Moving Picture World synopsis, from IMDB.com
Bubbles
In this re-edited, re-titled version of 'Conversion of Frosty Blake, The (1915)', some character names are changed but the story, of a New England pastor who goes out west for his health and encounters a gun-toting dance-hall owner and a beautiful dancer, remains fairly intact.
Viola Strathmore
When playwright Curtis de Forest Ralston becomes enamored of actress Viola Strathmore, who is to appear in his play Vanity, Viola induces him to change certain parts and give her more lines. Curtis, who is not as talented as he believes himself to be, fails at his job but is saved by his wife Anita, a former actress, who has forsaken her career for marriage. Anita and her old manager, Bruce Winthrope, fashion the play to suit Viola, and Vanity becomes a huge success. The play's triumph enlarges Curtis's ego even further, and he deserts Anita for Viola.
Golden Rule Kate
The setting is the Old West town of Paradise, Nevada, where a young woman, Mercedes Murphy (played by Louise Glaum), co-owns and operates a combination saloon and dance hall called the Red Hen with her business partner, Slick Barney (played by Jack Richardson). Her little half-sister, Olive "Live" Sumner (played by Mildred Harris), who is crippled, lives with her and she makes every effort to protect the child. A tough, but good-hearted businesswoman, Mercedes shows a tender side at home with Live. Her partner, Slick, and a cowboy called the Heller (played by John Gilbert), who has a heart of gold, are both interested in Live.
Lola Montrose
Lola Montrose ignores the scorn of society to live with Dr. John Hampton, the man she loves. After tiring of his mistress, Hampton tells Lola that he is planning to marry a "good woman" who will exert the proper influence over his son Irwin. Begging Hampton to marry her, Lola confesses that she too has a son, who is being reared in a religious institution for homeless children, but Hampton insists that he must not darken his son's future. Thirsting for revenge, Lola determines to marry Irwin. After inebriating the youth, Lola takes Irwin to the minister, who refuses to perform the ceremony. Too drunk to realize that there has been no wedding, Irwin takes Lola home and introduces her as his wife.
Nan Bishop
Promising young lawyer Jack Dunn,, becomes a victim of drugs and loses his standing in the legal world. He passes his idle hours in the slums where he meets Nan Bishop, an underworld figure. Nan's influence helps to make a man out of Dunn and with her help he breaks his dependence on drugs and is successful in obtaining a position as a criminal lawyer. Years later, they meet again in a courtroom. Nan has been falsely accused of murder and Dunn is the prosecuting attorney. Learning that Dunn's professional future depends on his winning the case, Nan pleads guilty, but, at the last minute, the real criminal is discovered and Nan is cleared of the crime. She then accepts Dunn's offer of marriage and together they look forward to a happy future.
Honore Zonlay
Betrayed by a man when she was a naive young girl, Honore hates all men and takes her revenge on every man she can. When she meets Gen. Durand--the uncle of the man who betrayed her--she sees a chance to ruin his whole family. Durand falls in love with her and proposes, and she sees her plan for revenge about to come to fruition. Then she falls for a young French soldier who knows nothing about her past. Complications ensue.
Annette Loti
Jack Harding, a wealthy ne'er-do-well, becomes involved with a Broadway vamp. When she is murdered, Jack is falsely accused of the crime and must turn for help to his lawyer--his wife.
Marie Chaumontel
Wicked Frenchwoman Marie Chaumontel is the mistress of Captain Henry Ravignac. She steals some papers from him, which she gives to the Germans. Then she escapes to Berlin while her lover is tried for her wrongdoing. He is found guilty of neglect, and he commits suicide. His brother, Lieutenant Charles Ravignac swears revenge, and he becomes a counterspy by going to work for the Germans.
Poppy
A small town marshal’s secret past as an outlaw comes back to haunt him when an old associate shows up and threatens to expose his former dark deeds.
Leila Aradella
An narcissistic woman with the ability to charm, Leila Aradella reaps delight from preying upon weak men. Her first victim is John Morton, a talented lawyer, whom she ruins both morally and financially. Her second victim, Rex Walden, the generous son of society matron Mrs. Walden, becomes her complete slave. Mrs. Walden sends her elder son Franklin to try to dissuade Leila from toying with Rex's affections. Franklin, however, also falls under Leila's spell, and Rex is driven to suicide by her callous behavior. Desperate, Mrs. Walden enlists Adele Harley, a girl of strong moral character, to fight Leila for Franklin's affections. Adele's determined victory causes Leila to lose her confidence, and in a drunken state, she cuts her own face with a shard from her shattered mirror. Permanently disfigured, Leila ends a broken and lonely woman.
Daisy Flores
Bessie Wheaton returns from Europe to find her nouveau riche family has adopted and magnified the worst characteristics of the upper class. Her father spends all of his time at the club, her mother cultivates snobbishness, and her sister thinks only of marrying into royalty. To shake them out of their aristocratic poses, Bessie decides to reflect all of their faults, becoming as lazy as her father and as status conscious as her mother. She even rejects her own sweetheart, Allan Shelby, to lure Count d'Orr away from her sister. Finally, the members of the family confront Bessie, and she angrily tells them that she was only mirroring their behavior. Bessie then runs away, but Allan, with whom she quickly reconciles, brings her back, just as her family acknowledges its recent burlesque of the upper crust.
Viola Bretagne, 'The Moth'
The pride of his aristocratic Southern family, a young man shatters his family's hopes by marrying a Broadway vamp known as "The Moth." The young man's father then plots to rescue his unwitting son from "The Moth's" clutches, but at great sacrifice.
Trixie, 'the Firefly'
Steve Denton, rich from years of prospecting, is fleeced by the citizens of Yellow Ridge. In his rage, he kidnaps the woman most responsible and makes her his slave in a desert hideaway.
Dolly (dance-hall girl)
When Reverend Robert Henley and his sister Faith arrive in the town of Hell's Hinges, saloon owner Silk Miller and his cohorts sense danger to their evil ways. They hire gunman Blaze Tracy to run the minister out of town. But Blaze finds something in Faith Henley that turns him around, and soon Silk Miller and his compadres have Blaze to deal with.
Miladi Winter
D'Artagnan leaves home travelling to Paris to join the Musketeers of the Guard. Although D'Artagnan is not able to join this elite corps immediately, he befriends the three most formidable musketeers of the age: Athos, Porthos and Aramis and gets involved in affairs of the state and court.
Ameera
Cecil Weatherby, travelling in the Arabian desert, comes upon a hidden and secret city. There he finds love in the form of a beautiful priestess, Ameera. Their love results in their being condemned to death, but even in the City of Death, love will find a way.
Thelma Iverson
It all begins when Mrs. Rossmore (Dean) discovers that her husband (Howard Hickman) has begun "playing the field" with other women. Too much the lady to make an issue of Mr. Rossmore's infidelities, Mrs. Rossmore nonetheless begins plotting her strategy to win him back. She does so by putting on a great show of pretending not to want her husband to return to the nest.
Kitty Molloy
The story is set in Alaska, where spoiled and pampered heiress Octavia Van Ness has come for her health. Here she meets 'Chuck' Hemingway, who despite his rough exterior is likewise a child of wealth, and a Yale graduate to boot. When Van Ness violently rejects his romantic overtures, Hemingway turns to an old Indian chum for advice. The Indian suggests rather chauvinistically that the way to win a headstrong girl is to "tame" her -- that is, treat 'er rough and make 'er like it.
Anita
Jim Maitland loses his last cent gambling the Double Stamp saloon and gambling hall, and shortly after it closes, he robs the proprietors "Keno" Bates and "Wind River"are robbed, at gunpoint. After the surprise, they track Maitland down, and Keno shoots him dead on self defense. Keno goes through his belongings and finds a letter and a locket; the letter announces the arrival of the deceased's sister, and the locket has a cameo picture of Doris Maitland. Thus, Keno tells Wind River they must do a heap of lying. Meeting the girl at the stagecoach's arrival, Keeno feels responsible for the innocent and attractive Ms. Maitland; he tells her a white lie, that her brother was a good man, "killed in a mine accident," who had left her a cabin and money - and Keno turns his own cabin over to Doris. Keno and Doris began to fall in love. Anita, a dance-hall girl, aggressively tries to seduce Keno.
Mlle. Poppea
Ballerina Poppea is adored by all the men of Calcutta, especially British soldier Captain Drake and Indian PrinceYar Khan. Because of his title and wealth, Poppea decides to marry the prince, while keeping Drake as a lover. But the prince eventually discovers what she's up to and goes out of his way to catch the adulterers together. He takes two glasses of wine, pours arsenic into one, and tells Poppea to choose which glass each man will drink. She innocently picks the poisoned glass for Drake and he dies horribly. The prince disposes of the body and drives Poppea out into the desert.
Johnny Firth is a young prize fighter who, because of wine, woman and song, is knocked out. He leaves for the west with his manager, who is broke, because of Johnny's defeat. They arrive in Arizona and Johnny beats up a big bully there named Mason, because he has stolen from an old character called Nutty Ike, his bag of nuggets. Nutty Ike introduces the two men to his daughter and makes them his partners in a gold mine he has discovered in the desert. Mason trails them and there is a big fight at the mine, also in the interior.
Miss Arnold
Nina, a poor fisher girl, whose parents have been lost at sea, finds her one joy in life in the love of Glenn Morey. Miss Arnold, a young artist from the city, comes to the island. She is attracted to Morey's appearance and engages him as her model. He becomes infatuated with her. Nina, neglected and heart-broken, sees her happiness slipping from her.
Whalen's Confederate
John Zeldon, the newly elected State senator and pledged to fight for the Miners' Bill, requiring the installation of new safety devices in the coal mines, in his speech to the miners the night before his departure, assures them that they can count on him to the last ditch.On his arrival in the capital he is taken up by Mr. Whalen, the brains of the lobby and secretly its chief, who flatters John and invites him out with a brilliant set of men and women who make a lion of him in order to gain his vote against the proposed bill. John's head is turned by their flattery and when Hazel Flemming, his fiancée and star reporter on his home paper, comes to the capitol for an interview with John, she is amazed to find him wavering and realizes the fight is lost unless she can make him realize the mistake he is making. To do this she has a phantom extra printed telling in thrilling headlines of a horrible accident in the coal mines, wherein 200 miners have lost their lives
Rosa Gonzales
Donna Gonzales has a daughter, Rosa, and a son, Maxim. Maxim is fighting in the Rebel cause, his mother being the widow of a Rebel general. He is pursued while taking important dispatches to the Rebel general, takes refuge in his home, hides himself in a chimney and eludes the Federals. Maxim is badly wounded, and his sister, Rosa, volunteers to carry the dispatches. She departs dressed in her brother's clothes and is captured.
Trixie
A poor young boy falls for a chorus girl after he finds out that she is not like the "loose women" she works with. He determines to get her to leave the immoral show-business life and marry him.
White Dove
Pierre Vignol, an artist wintering in Arizona, is bitten by a snake. He is taken by his friend, Tom Hornby, to Padre Francisco, who prescribes for the bite. Pierre, at the request of Tom, returns to his cabin and Tom takes care of him. Later Tom discovers a tube in Lost River. This proves to be a painting and Pierre takes it to Padre Francisco. The Padre reads him an interesting history of Fr. Bartolomeo. founder of the Mission, and of how the painting came to be discovered in Lost River, for it had been thrown there by a monk when the Mission was attacked by the Indians, owing to the abduction of the Chief's daughter by a villainous Spaniard. Tom takes the painting to New York where he sells it and gives the money to the wife of Tom, who has been too poor to bring her and the baby to Arizona.
Carmen - the Dance Hall Girl
Juan Capella, the son of a poor Spanish tavern keeper, and his wife, learning of the discovery of gold on the American River near Sacramento, runs away from his parents and sweetheart to make his fortune. The tavern keeper is in debt and places a mortgage on the tavern in order to prevent it being seized to pay another debt.
Bubbles
Rev. Horace Brightray, pastor of a New England village church, is ordered by his physician to seek another climate. He goes to Agua Caliente, where he attempts to hold services in the hotel dining room, but nobody attends excepting the hotel clerk and maid, and a dance hall girl, Bubbles. The proprietor of the Legal Tender saloon is very bitter toward Horace and commands them not to attend services. Horace is soon out of funds and is ejected from the hotel. Sick and hopeless, he goes to the Legal Tender and slaps Frosty across the face with his hat, feeling sure it will mean death to him.
Fanny
Yukon Ed has asked saloon owner Ruby McGraw to marry him several times, and has been turned down each time. However, she falls for Jack Sturgess, a no-account who has seduced and abandoned a poor young girl and is escaping from his father's anger. She takes up with Jack to Ed's dismay, and soon the thing that Ed feared would happen does happen.
Normah, a Slave Girl
A white slaver impersonates the heir to an English estate, but the rightful heir reappears and exposes the imposter.
Irene Bullard
Sisters Helen and Ruth Fiske work in a department store and live in an East Side tenement. While Ruth is satisfied with her "regular fellow," a mechanic, Helen yearns for fine clothes, wealth, and attention. Ruth marries the mechanic and they struggle for a modest existence. Helen leaves her squalor to be the mistress of wealthy John Ward, despite Ruth's pleas. As the years pass, Helen goes from one man to the next, looking for more luxuries. When James Kellerman, who really loves her, proposes, she laughs at him.
Mrs. Barr
Mr. Barr is a young husband who is inclined to neglect his wife for the other woman. He refuses to accompany her shopping one afternoon and leaves, meeting another girl, whom he takes to the theater. Mrs. Barr is all broken up. She is visited by a friend who suggests that they go to a matinee. They do so and Mrs. Barr discovers Mr. Barr in a box with the other woman. She leaves very much broken up. She attempts suicide on a railroad track, but is frightened by the rumbling of the train. She next visits a drug store where her nervous manner gives away her intention to the druggist. Instead of giving her cyanide of potassium as she requests he gives her a bottle of plain water, marking it cyanide of potassium.
Yvette
Ruth Castle plans to surprise her husband on their fifth wedding anniversary with a very elaborate dinner and promises their two little children that they may eat at the big table that night. Rex, her husband, is infatuated with Yvette, a dancer, and, having forgotten all about the anniversary, has a date with Yvette, whose birthday it is. He buys Yvette a beautiful diamond necklace which he leaves in his overcoat pocket. Ruth peeks in his pocket for her expected present and discovers the necklace. She is much surprised when Rex leaves without having given it to her.
Nell Saunders
Nell Saunders is the daughter of an innkeeper in a college town. She is loved by Glen Dale, the quarterback of the college team, and also Pierson, the fullback.
The Wife
A wife discovers her husband's double life and she herself plunges into the whirl of vice.
Ruth
Annie Crum, a country girl, dissatisfied with country life and anxious to go to the city, runs away from her uncle guardian and country lover and goes to the city. She loves John Harding, her country lover, but has told him that she could never be contented with the drudgery of the farm.
Anne
Ben Anderson, factor of the trading station, impatient with his daughter Anne's coquetries, calls all the trappers to him and promises to wed her to the one who brings back the most valuable catch of furs in the spring. Anne fancies herself in love with Henri Levesnue, a Frenchman. So when he is reported to have brought in the biggest prize she is delighted. But the following day, Joe Eagle, a quarter-breed, reaches the station with twice Henri's catch, Ben insists that Anne marry Joe, but she swears she never could become the wife of the French Indian, and because he really loves her, Joe, who has overheard her protestations, hides half his furs under his cabin floor. Anne is married to Henri, but in a few months is very unhappy. He is a heavy drinker; he neglects her, and at last, being penniless, he steals a bale of furs from the station. The factor sets Joe to catch the thief.
Marjorie Burgess - the Scrub
Gordon Elliott, a student at one of the big universities, is unable to make the football team until his senior year. He is then awarded a position at center because of his superior method of passing the ball, though his lightness is against him. He overhears the head coach say that Dick Blackwood would make a better center if only he could master the pass. In his loyalty to the college Elliott teaches Blackwood the pass, thereby eliminating himself, not merely from the team, but also, as he supposes, from the possibility of winning Marjorie Burgess, who has commanded him to return for his answer after he has played his first big game.
Julie Ledru
Andrew McLeod, the Factor, is called "The Panther" by the Indians, owing to his cruelty. He wishes to marry Julie, the daughter of Francois Ledru, a French trapper. Julie is afraid of McLeod and rather than become his wife she runs away. Ledru is terrified when he discovers her absence as he knows McLeod will make him suffer for it, in which fear he is fully justified, as he is beaten and then shot by McLeod. Meantime, Julie, in her wanderings, runs into Father Lezare, who is journeying toward the trading station, and also David Brandt, a hunter. She appeals to them for help and upon David's assertion that he will do anything to help her, she begs him to marry her. After some hesitation on the part of both David and the priest, this is done.
Mary Green
Mary Green works in a railroad restaurant. Here she becomes acquainted with a traveling salesman, who misses his train because a group of capitalists get in his way at the ticket window. Going to the telegraph office to send a message, he picks up a telegram left by the capitalists which states that a valuable mine belongs to Mary Green, who does not realize its worth.
Louise
Louise and Ray are newly married. At heart Ray is in love with Louise, though he is a bit of a flirt. Resentful, because of his neglect, Louise writes her parents that she is coming home. She learns that Ray is infatuated with his stenographer, and hires a detective to trail him.
Mistaken identity is the theme. The husband, who neglects his wife, is watched by two detectives, who make up to appear like him. When mother-in-law arrives the action begins
Louise Thatcher - the Ranch Owner's Daughter
An English nobleman travels West for some deer hunting. The ranch hands make fun of him, but Louise takes a liking to him and decides that she'll help him bag his deer.
Louise
Miss Charity Prim, principal of a select school for young ladies, decides to take five of her pupils on a vacation. She writes a letter notifying the local hotel keeper that she will arrive by auto. She arrives with her charges and is met at the hotel by a deluge of cowboys, whom she chases away.
Susie - the Ranchman's Daughter
Young Ike has fallen for the rancher's daughter. His chances improve when it's found that he stands to inherit $50,000, but things get complicated it turns out that he's actually $50,000 in debt.
Universal Ike Junior at the Dance of Little L.O.
Ike's Bride
Universal Ike Junior on His Honeymoon
Louise
Ike, having produced the roll of money from the leg of Louise's father's trousers, rents a speedy automobile, and with Louise starts for the beach. Meanwhile, father, ma and the sheriff, having extricated themselves from the roof of the hotel, start out in mad pursuit.
Molly Ashley, a child of the slums, is charged with being an accomplice to a shoplifter. Although innocent, she is convicted of shoplifting and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Jim Tracy, the leader of a band of gangsters, rescues Molly. The following morning Detective Stone is assigned the task of locating and running down Jim Tracy's gang. In order to secure evidence against the gang, he disguises himself as one of the gangsters, runs into their place and pretends that the "cops" are after him. Tracy and the gang take him in. Molly falls in love with Stone and discovers his true identity. One of the crooks gets sore at Jim Tracy and betrays them to the police. Jim accuses Molly of betraying them. Stone resents his accusation.
Louise - Ike's Sweetheart
Following their elopement, Ike and Louise are captured by the sheriff, and with the girl's mother and father, all go to a hotel for the night. The sheriff takes charge of his two prisoners and locks them in adjoining rooms. They discover a fire escape. While they are planning their getaway, the old folks are preparing for bed.
Louise - the Hotel Waitress
Drummer Jones makes his annual trip west. He stays at the Thatch Hotel, run by Louise's mother. Ike is janitor of the hotel. He and Louise are sweethearts. After the trunks are placed in the drummer's room he unpacks his samples. Louise has been watching from her room. When she sees her way clear, she hides herself in the trunk.
Louise
Louise's father at last decides she is old enough to marry. So she in turn informs Ike of the fact and bids him come at once before father changes his mind. While Louise is getting her wedding dress ready, Ike purchases himself a dress suit. He steals a horse and buggy and starts for the train. The horse refuses to hurry.
The Daughter
Daughter is a sweet and simple thing but not easily managed. Mother picks Harry. Dad prefers Johnny. Daughter herself has her heart set on Billy. A mild war is declared when daughter sees a way to solve the matter. She tells mother that she will marry Harry, Dad that she will wed Johnnie and whispers slyly to Billy that he is the man.
Zingara - a Gypsy Girl - the Vampire
After a long spell of quietude at Alkali Flat things began to brighten up. Horse thieves drove a number of stock away. The men folks organized a posse. Although Ike was not married he, like the others, found the business of chasing horse-thieves rather restful. While the posse was camped in an old riverbed, Zingara, a beautiful gypsy girl, and her father drove their wagon into the camp and were invited to put up there tor the night.
Louise - the Doctor
A young lady doctor causes all the trouble in Alkali Flats. Up to this time the town had never awakened. Then Louise arrived. There was just two hotels in town, one owned by a widow and the other by the mother of Universal Ike, Jr. Louise set out for the widow's hotel. But before she arrived her coming was heralded and every cowboy in the town
Louise
Dad goes to get some money, but the beehives are empty. There is a great confusion until Ma finds some hair in the hive. The sheriff, meanwhile, is searching for criminals. He meets Ma and Pa, sees the hair, decides the thieves and his prey are the same and seeks aid.
Boys on Circle Ranch dissatisfied with the cooking, decide to have the cook discharged. The ranch owner sends Ike to town to bring a new cook back. In the meantime, the cook's daughter has arrived to pay her mother a visit.
Louise
When a small traveling theatrical troupe stages a production in town, Ike is suddenly "bitten" by the acting bug and determines to become a famous actor.
Universal Ike Junior in a Battle Royal
Louise
The glad tidings that his mother-in-law had arrived in town reached Ike just as he was about to swallow a glass of beer. His agitation was extreme. His home life was bad enough before but after the mother arrived it was an inferno.
Mary
Ike's uncle dies and leaves him a lot of money. He decides that he and his wife will buy a hotel. His first customers are a traveling circus, and when they can't pay the bill they leave Ike an elephant as payment.
Evelyn
Universal Ike and the sheriff, the best of friends, each entertain a commonplace sentiment in regard to his wife; namely, neither is interested in her so long as she doesn't burn the biscuits.
Louise
Ike loves Louise. She accepts him without consulting her mother. Therefore when the mother chooses the sheriff for her son-in-law, Ike is forced to win the girl by other means than gentle words.
The New Schoolteacher
Ike and a pretty new schoolteacher help a young runaway boy by making sure he goes to school.
Mary (unconfirmed)
Ika marries a widow, figuring he's set for life. Unfortunately for him, the first thing she does is put him to work. Ike hatches a scheme with his doctor to fake illness to get out of work, but his new wife has planned for that, too.
Mary
Ike is made the ranch's cook. When a traveling theatrical troupe get stranded nearby, Ike asks them back to the ranch, mainly so he can get next to their pretty leading lady, but he finds that he has to compete for the girl's affections with her pet monkey.
Mary
John de Rockingchair, oil magnate, is a suitor for the hand of Louise. The young lady, however, has long since decided that she will not marry any man who has money. Aside from this she loves Universal Ike.
Mary
Universal Ike accepts the position of ranch-foreman. Practically the first thing he does is to get in "'Dutch" with the cowboys. To further increase his troubles Mrs. Ike develops a platonic friendship from the ranch owner.
Mary
Universal Ike Goes Astray
Mary
Universal Ike in the Battle of Little Tin Horn
Hester Hale - the Mountaineer's Daughter
Horace Clark, a young evangelist, first thrashes and then reforms Tim Downs, a drunkard and a gangster. Horace wins the gratitude of Tim and his wife, when he saves their children from death. The gang, angry at having lost its leader, plans to waylay the evangelist.
Mary
Universal Ike is badly treated by his nagging wife.
Mary
"They died for love. Locked in each other's arms, they capsized the boat and sank beneath the surface of the dismal waters without a murmur." Thus the romantic Mary reads and her youthful imagination is first with the noble sentiment.
Mary
Universal Ike Gets a Goat
Ethel Hawkins
The police request Roy to aid them in tracking the murderer of Langham, found slain in his room at the Piermont Hotel. In looking over the scene of the crime, Roy finds an unset emerald on the floor. A peach bearing tooth-marks is also found by the criminologist. Roy's suspicion is directed toward Hawkins, a society man, who has the suite next to the murdered man's room. Searching the suspect's rooms, Roy finds a fob from which the stone is missing. The emerald fits the setting perfectly.
Henry's Wife
Henry goes to the club after promising his wife to be home early. Falling in with a congenial crowd, he drinks not too wisely, but too well. Overflowing with good spirits, Henry leaves for home. Realizing he must square himself with his wife, the man buys a bunch of violets for her. Henry enters the house of his next-door neighbor by mistake.
Elizabeth - Lawrence's Sweetheart
In leaving his boarding house to attend a New Year's celebration given by Elizabeth, his sweetheart. Lawrence loses his invitation to the affair. Elizabeth receives a valuable necklace from her father. That night, the girl promised to marry Lawrence. As Lawrence takes Elizabeth in his arms, her necklace becomes entangled in his cuff link. The boy disengages the jewel and places it on the table. Shortly afterward, both leave the room. Elizabeth misses her necklace after Lawrence has gone home. Her father suspects Lawrence of having stolen it.
Mildred - an Heiress
At the instigation of Sybel, an adventuress, Black, a society parasite, steals a valuable diamond brooch. He turns the jewel over to the adventuress, who then throws him over. Black flees from the city to escape arrest. Shortly afterward, the young man meets and falls in love with Mildred.
Mary Stanley - Billy's Sweetheart
Mary and Billy are sweethearts. Mr. Stanley, the girl's father, suspects the boy of being a victim of the drug habit. Billy, in an attempt to master his craving, abstains from the drug. He is invited to dinner at his sweetheart's home. Stanley notices the boy's nervousness. He resolves to call upon him at his office and learn the truth. The next day, Billy's desire for the drug becomes so intense that the moment his employees leave the office, he brings out his hypodermic.
Edith - Hurd's Fiancée
Colonel Crewe, in charge of a fort near the Mexican border, receives word that some Chinese are about to be smuggled across the line. He details Lieutenant Hurd to attend to the matter. Hurd, with a few soldiers, succeeds in capturing the Chinese, among whom is a Christianized girl, Moon Chew. She falls in love with Hurd.
White Dove
Because White Dove, daughter of the Indian Chief, and Moccasin, her half-breed husband, are baptized by Donald McTavish, the new minister of Gray Rock, Ariz., they become subject for the vengeance of the Medicine Man.
Betty
Jim Owens, a sergeant in the Union army, finds the body of a dead Confederate, whose resemblance to himself is so great that he is startled. He makes an examination of the man's clothes and finds a letter addressed to John Calhoun, 7th Regiment, Virginia Volunteers. The letter is from the man's mother, telling him that her world is very narrow now that she has lost her eyesight. Never having known a mother's love, Owens decides to impersonate Calhoun, feeling that the mother will not recognize that he is not her son, now that she is blind.
For Mother's Sake is a 1913 silent film.
The Reaping is a 1913 silent film.
Loaded Dice is a 1913 short film.
Priscilla - the Village Girl
The setting is an early American village, where a young Quaker woman, Priscilla, is in love with the schoolmaster, John Hart. The local minister, Rev. Cole, who calls on her at her cabin with flowers, is an unwelcome suitor. In revenge, he has "blue laws" passed, among them is one requiring attendance at church on Sunday. Priscilla refuses to comply with the law and is arrested. After being plunged in and out of water and pilloried, she is banished from the colony. John goes with her. They are attacked by Indians and John is badly wounded. Priscilla manages to get back to the village in time to warn the Puritans of an impending attack. They defeat the Indians after a desperate battle. The Rev. Cole, who has been mortally wounded, begs Priscilla's forgiveness and the Puritans make amends for their harsh treatment of her.
One of the Girls
Dad has three charming daughters who fall in love with three eligible young men and moreover, promise to marry them, each couple selecting a perfectly lovely place for the proposal. All this while Dad has been courting Jennie. He proposes, too, and likewise he is accepted. They arrange to keep their engagement a secret. The boys all arrange to beard the lion in his den. Dad simulates a terrible rage and banishes them forever. The boys leave. The girls are in despair. They send for the boys to come and say good-bye. The boys are interrupted by the entrance of Dad and Jennie and are astonished to learn that the lady is to be their new mamma. The boys are allowed to replace the rings upon the girl's fingers once more, and general rejoicing is in order.
Marion
Jim Black, learning that his rival, David Durard, son of Colonel Durard, wealthy Southern wholesale grocers, has won the heart of Marion, plans to separate the lovers before war breaks out.
A railroad plant is set afire by striking workmen, and the firemen are prevented from extinguishing the flames by the infuriated strikers. The troops are called out and martial law prevails.
Virginia Chester
Virginia Chester visits her Aunt Betty who resides near an army post. Lieut. Calhoun falls in love with Virginia, and after a whirlwind courtship persuades her to marry him secretly. Helen Brassey, the daughter of the Colonel, is in love with Calhoun, and gets her father to help her win the lieutenant's affections.
Louise
Eddy and his chauffeur come to the rescue of Louise and her maid, Corinne, whose automobile breaks down. Lee soon puts matters right, and Corinne gets her fuzzy hair all mixed up with his as he tinkers about. Eddy naturally keeps Louise company and cards are exchanged. Arriving home papa puts a veto on the prospective call of the impecunious young lawyers, as he wants a titled man for a son-in-law. One evening papa goes to the club, and is introduced to Lord Chester, and asks his lordship to call. While papa is thus being entertained, Eddy has called and is enjoying a tête-à-tête with Louise. Corinne spies Lee and introduces him to the butler and the cook and they all have a good time. The following day his Lordship calls, Louise however, has no use for titled personages with Eddy outside honking his auto horn.
Louise
Lee rejoices, for has he not a holiday to-morrow? He meets Eddie, who is employed in a large dry goods emporium. He hears of Lee's luck and wants to join him. They plan.
Louise
Eddie is well content with his bachelor quarters and life. He is not interested as he should be when his affectionate Uncle Russell, backed by Aunty, writes reminding him that he will lose a legacy of $75,000 if he is not married by his 25th birthday, which is fast approaching, and begging him to come and meet the bevy of nice girls and boys he has invited for a visit.
Mary - the Minister's Daughter
The choir practices and the quartette, driven to desperation by the frequent false notes played by the near-sighted organist, complain. He leaves in a huff. The minister tells them that his daughter will be on hand next Sunday and will play for them. Mary arrives. She is introduced to the quartette who, during the week days, sow seeds and plow. The minister is writing a sermon when the deacon enters and demands the payment of the mortgage on the church. He is insistent, but promises to wait upon meeting Mary, when his heart melts at the sight of her loveliness.
Louise
The old folks had planned years ago whom the young folks were to marry. Their wishes were carried out in an extremely unexpected and humorous manner.
Louise Canby
Professor De Risque, anxious to escape for a time the too solicitous attention of Madame De Risque, arrives at Roaring Gulch and, noting that the town numbers some very pretty girls amongst its population, he hangs out his shingle announcing the fact that he teaches the piano and violin. The professor is charming and the young ladies are impressionable, they readily desert the constant cowboys for the professor. The cowboys get their heads together and plan a counter-move.
In order to get a job as a cook on a ranch, a young girl disguises herself as a boy. Problems arise when several of the young women at the ranch fall in love with "him".
Marcia Allen
Violet De Ray opens up a barber shop at Roaring Gulch. Violet not only does a ripping good business, but she unconsciously has a hand in hurrying along several matrimonial affairs which have hung fire. This is notably the case with Si, who has loved bashfully and at a respectable distance for years. He is lured into Violet's shop, and after his chin whiskers have been clipped he emerges elated; and this coupled with Mandy's desire to protect him from such evil influences, cements a long drawn out romance.
Jane Carston
Jane Carston was to return tomorrow from Ohio, where she had been for the past three years in school, and the ranch was all agog with expectancy and cleanliness. Bob Evans, head cowboy, was most eager and most anxious of the lot. Tomorrow finally became today and Pa had gone to the station in his best linen duster and the buckboard to meet Jane. Finally, in a cloud of dust. Bob discerns them on the brow of the hill. Arriving at the house Jane greets mother with a rousing smack.
Mary Lemon - Suffragette
John Hobbs is a candidate for sheriff, so is Sam Barton. John is a favorite in the vicinity, but Barton has the political pull. Things look none too well for John, when Mary Lemon arrives to visit her brother's ranch. Mary is a suffragette. Having come to the country for a rest from men and work, she promptly forms an attachment for John and starts right in to turn a probable defeat into a sure victory. Mary calls a meeting and the boys attend anticipating some amusement. They leave enthusiastic about Clary's charming personality and many of them lukewarm in their adherence to Barton. Mary is not satisfied, election day is at hand and the fight is not won.
Mabel Russell, an Heiress
Mabel Russell, on her return from Europe, is informed by James Leonard, administrator of the Russell Estate, that it was her father's dying wish that she should marry Billy Jones, the son of William Jones, her father's schoolmate and lifelong friend. Mabel, however, has ideas of her own and rather resents being disposed of like a parcel of goods, so when Billy calls upon her, she takes advantage of the fact that he has not seen her since she was a child, and induces her maid (a young woman who has a good figure and passable manners, but is extremely homely), to impersonate her, while she dresses up as the maid.
Mabel Jones
The advent of Mabel Jones on her uncle's ranch in Stony Gulch creates great havoc among the boys. Three of them, Bob, Frank and Jack are so smitten with her charms as to forget their own sweethearts who rise up in arms and are glad indeed when Mabel's visit is over.
Grace Cameron
Dick Martin, foreman of the Circle E ranch, tells Colonel Gray that his mother is coming to visit them for a short time. The Colonel thinks it's a fine opportunity to invite his three nieces from the city, as Dick's mother could act as their chaperone.
Barnet's Daughter - the Bride
Jack Thompson asks "Boss" Barnet for his daughter's hand, and the wise old man asks him how much money he has in the bank. Jack is embarrassed and the "boss" tells him that when he has $2,500 he will consent to the wedding. The young people are disappointed by the turn of affairs, and to hasten the wedding the girl hits upon a clever ruse.
Bess
Bess's pet donkey Sammy, has just died. Her three cowboy lovers call to propose, and as they all arrive about the same time, Bess is in a quandary. Her recent bereavement sharpens her wits. She tells them she would marry the first one that brings her a white donkey, just like her dead Sammy.
Nell Barclay
Although Nell Barclay is very young, she has succeeded in falling in love with Ralph Tracy, a big, manly ranch owner and friend of her father. Louis Potosi, a neighbor, is also in love with Nell. The two suitors attend the round-up held on the Barclay ranch and pay court to the pretty girl while watching the roping and branding of the cattle.
Mary Gordon - the Ranchman's Daughter
Dick Lee, while hunting, meets James Gordon, an old rancher, who invites him to his cabin. Here he meets the rancher's daughter Mary. They soon become fast friends, and the girl's heart is almost broken when, at the end of the boy's holidays, he is to return to the city. Mary makes him promise to write. Back in the city, Dick tries to forget the country girl, and, as he is engaged to Lillian West, life is very gay indeed. Somehow, he cannot forget the little girl back on the ranch. The promised letter, however, is never written. Mary looks every day for the letter that does not come, and her father is very sad to see her pine away. At last he cannot stand it longer, and makes up his mind to go to the city and hunt Dick up.
The Hidden Love
A little girl whose parents were killed by Indians grows up the adopted daughter of a white settler and the one Indian who lives in the same hut with him. They both love the girl dearly and finally, when an artist comes along with whom she falls in love and who ultimately takes her away to his eastern home.
Constance
A story of Puritan village life. The son of a minister wins a girl away from her devoted fisherman. Orphaned, she is adopted by the minister, and when her child is born refuses to reveal the father's name. She is cast out by the minister and scorned by the people. When her child is dying the fisherman comes back to her with unfaltering love, and the minister's son meets a tragic death at the hands of the Indians.
Louise
Jack, at college, marries Louise. Vacation approaches; he writes his father, asking if there would be any objection to his marriage. He receives in reply a decided negative. Louise suggests a way out of the dilemma. She dresses as a boy. Jack introduces Louise as "my friend Jimmie." Dad, in the absence of Jack, takes Jimmie out to show him around. Jimmie is a poor sport, but manages to get something on Dad. Jack's mother is the first to learn the truth. When father learns the relation of "Jimmie" and Jack he is induced to yield his blessing.