Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
to
to
Exclude
Only includes titles with the selected topics
to
In minutes
to
1-11 of 11
- Adapted from a one-act Grand Guignol play based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story 'The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether', the film portrays a visitor to an insane asylum where it becomes clear that the inmates have taken control. Telling the visitor that a cure for insanity has been found by cutting out an eye of the patient and then slitting his throat, the "director" hurries into another room, reemerges with blood all over his hands and, as blood seeps from beneath the door, incites other inmates who now surround the visitor.
- Henri is surrounded by fawning courtiers, who hide behind their smiles a deadly intent to do away with him at the first opportunity in favor of his brother, Duc d'Anjou. There is but one man who is honestly Henri's friend. This man is Chicot the Jester, a huge, handsome, fearless fellow, true as steel, to those who called him friend, deadly as venom to those who dared betray him or his sovereign, and the only person who may speak the truth to the king. Chicot the Jester is given an order by the king for the arrest of the gallant Count De Bussy, whose deserved popularity with the ladies of the court irritates the petulant Henri constantly. Chicot the Jester had the courage of his convictions; he was a man who dared. Knowing his friend De Bussy to be guiltless, he tore the court order into shreds and ordered De Bussy into retirement at the peaceful castle of Baron de Meridor, whose beautiful daughter, Diana Chicot, knew to be the adored one of De Bussy's heart. How De Bussy complied; how he was waylaid by the king's men within Diana's gates; how Diana nursed him secretly; how the uncouth Count de Monsoreau had the beauty kidnapped upon De Bussy's return to court; how De Monsoreau married her before Chicot, who had overheard the plot could interfere.
- The opening scenes show the bombardment of a Turkish town by the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. This view was taken from the deck of a Russian battleship and the details of loading the huge guns, firing them, and watching the results of their deadly accuracy are all horribly apparent. A whole town bursts into flames, and a new target is sought. A steamer is sighted in the distance making hurriedly for port, and at once it becomes the mark of broadside after broadside of volleys. The first shots tear up the water about the ship and the next instant the vessel is slapped as by a vindictive Triton, a cloud of smoke; she lists grotesquely, shivers and splinters as a few more shells find their mark and then settles sickening, head first to her final port. Another scene shows a narrow mountain pass walled on one side by unscalable cliffs and sheering off on the other into a gaping precipice piled high with the dead of a whole Turkish force which, unable to advance or retreat was cut to pieces by withering artillery fire. A touching scene is one where a mother and daughter of a dead soldier mourn beside his freshly turned grave. The deadly French 75-centimeter gun in action, a giant steel bridge wrecked to prevent the advance of the enemy's troops, the throwing of hand grenades over the short distance that separates the French from the German trenches, a barbed wire entanglement designed to tear to pieces the advancing enemy, a single war missile powerful enough to kill a regiment, a horse hurled by a shell explosion high into a tree-top, the new French aeroplane gun in action trying to bring down an enemy aviator, and the decoration of those who gave their eyes as toll to Mars, are but a few of the vivid scenes that make up this film.
- A doctor discovers a new serum, which when used right by any physician, is a preventative of madness.
- The Duke of Sairmuse weds Blanche Courtleigh. Shortly alter she is blackmailed for money by a band of ruffians, who threaten to inform the Duke that her brother is a hardened convict. Wild with anxiety she decides to meet the blackmailers and strive to effect a compromise. Her husband, suspicious of her actions, follows her and has one of the gang try to steal her earrings. He breaks in and in a struggle kills them. He is disguised in old clothes to save his wife's honor and holds off the police until she escapes. Monsieur Lecoq, the famous detective, captures the Duke, but to protect his wife he keeps silent. The famous detective tries various devices to entrap the nobleman and learn his real identity, but it is useless. At last they permit him to escape and follow him to his home. While the Duke's faithful servant, Ott, is parleying with the sleuth, the Duke changes his clothes and confronts him in his natural guise. Baffled, the hound of the law departs. The Duke discharges Otto, giving him a large sum of money to avert suspicion. Meanwhile, husband and wife have reached an understanding and forgetting the past endeavor to regain their former happiness. A short time later the Duke receives a letter purporting to come from his servant and requesting a further loan. It is presented by a ragged individual, and while the nobleman is making out a check the bearer strips off his disguise and stands revealed as Lecoq. He explains, it has been absolutely necessary for him to clear up the mystery, and as Sairmuse has delivered society of three evil-doers, the matter may be dropped. Thus the reputation of the famous detective has been vindicated and husband and wife are left to renew their happy alliance.
- Mafflu, the old clown, out walking is greatly surprised to see a baby girl, fast asleep, holding in her hand a chunk of bread, at which a large number of sparrows are pecking. Mafflu decides to take the child away with him and care for it. He does this, but upon arriving at the circus where he is employed, the owner and the rest of the company have but a cold greeting for the little newcomer. However, Mafflu clings to the child. The Sparrow, as she is called, grows up and becomes the drudge of the circus. One evening, though worn out by fatigue and hunger, she must still prepare for the evening show. Scarcely has she mounted her horse and made a few rounds of the arena, when she falls and lies unconscious in the center of the arena. Romarin is in a rage and strikes the girl. Mafflu is disgusted and sends an official to the mayor. M. de Ganges, who that night happened to be a spectator. M. de Ganges takes the Sparrow with him to his home and she bids farewell to the only two beings she has ever loved, her adopted father and a poodle. Next morning, on awaking, she can hardly believe that all the beautiful things about her are a reality. The dream is indeed but a fleeting one. The Sparrow is received with jeers and mockery when she puts in an appearance in the servants' dining-room for her meals. A few days later a horse runs away in the park and the Sparrow cleverly manages to master it. This makes the groom, Charley, madly jealous. Charley abuses the Sparrow and a free fight ensues. M. de Ganges intervenes, and, disgusted with the groom's impudence, discharges him. The Sparrow is now received into the intimacy of the Mayor's family. She has fine clothes and jewels. A friend of the family, the banker Schlemmer, spends a few days at the mansion and is strangely attracted to the Sparrow. The attraction is not reciprocated, for, by degrees, the Sparrow falls in love with M. de Ganges. Alas, one day, she surprises him in a close embrace with his cousin. She is jealous. Schlemmer still persecutes the Sparrow to the extent of doing her violence. She decides to leave the house. In a few lines she thanks her benefactors for their goodness and announces her departure without, however, revealing its real cause. The Sparrow signs a very profitable contract with a new circus and she forgets, to a certain extent, her former disappointments. However, her troubles are not over yet. Charley, engaged as groom at the circus, finds occasion to exercise his hatred. After a first performance, the Sparrow goes to her dressing-room to change her costume for a second appearance. When, on hearing a noise, she turns around, and is horrified to see Schlemmer, introduced there by the groom, and who endeavors to abuse the girl, who defends herself energetically. Fortunately for her, Mafflu and the stage manager, wondering why she does not appear, enter her room and put an end to the trouble. Although not quite recovered from the shock, the Sparrow, nevertheless, takes her place on the central platform, where she is to perform her aerial act. M. de Ganges and his young wife are also spectators. In seeing the one she loves and who is forever lost to her, the Sparrow is painfully affected and, without ceasing to look at him, she makes a sudden leap, misses the rope along which she was to glide to earth, and crashes to the ground. Mafflu, in tears, picks up the girl, whose back is broken, and carries her away. M. de Ganges, deeply moved, comes to her and the Sparrow has, at least, the consolation of beholding before her death the dear face of the loved one.
- The mother of two daughters falls under the spell of a hypnotist.
- A cry for help rings through the stillness of a summer's night and young Lieutenant Paul Dawson, about to enter the home of his father, turns around and a startling scene meets his eyes. Down the road come dashing two horses, dragging with them a carriage in which a young lady is sitting and holding tightly to her seat. Regaining his composure, the young man dashes in front of the runaways and within a few moments he has control of the horses. The girl is no other than the famous dancer, Florence Mayfield. It is love at first sight. Paul's steady attentions to the dancer attract the notice of his superior officer, Colonel Somers, who, after a severe reprimand, sentences Paul to eight days' confinement and demands his word of honor that during this time he will not try to communicate with or see Florence. Hesitatingly he gives the Colonel his promise. Five days elapse and Florence, who has not heard from Paul, grows uneasy. Fearing that something has befallen her lover, Florence, whose engagement terminating that night necessitates her leaving town, determines to see him at all hazards. Calling her maid, she asks for her cloak and slipping it on over her dancing costume, goes to seek Paul. Paul's father and Colonel Somers are sitting at their nightly game of chess in Dawson's home when a dispute arises as to a certain point in the game. The Colonel suggests that they call on Paul to ask his opinion. On entering Paul's room they are dumbfounded to find Florence Mayfield there. Paul's father draws a sword and is about to strike him, but Paul's mother intervenes. The father breaks Paul's sword and tells his son to leave his home at once and forever. Years roll by. Paul and Florence are married and Paul has taken up a stage career. He has already won worldwide fame by his thrilling performance known as "The Gap of Death." This performance consists of leaping a gap on a motorcycle. From his native town comes an offer of a good engagement. At first he hesitates, but finally decides to accept and goes there. A fellow artist, having seen Paul's pretty wife, pays unwelcome attentions to her and Paul gives him a severe beating. That night Paul meets with a terrible accident. The villain had unscrewed and loosened the planks of the scaffold on which Paul makes his daring descent. The scaffold gives way, but Paul is not the only victim. Next day the police authorities find a mangled body (unrecognizable) which was, of course, the villain who had tampered with the scaffolding and who had not time to escape. Police inquiry leads to the discovery that Paul is the son of one of the most prominent families of the town. His mother is notified and she rushes to his sickbed imploring forgiveness which is readily given. After a six weeks' illness. Paul recovers and returns to his ancestral home which his father now deceased has willed him. realizing that Paul had committed no greater wrong than loving the sweet girl who is now his wife.
- Noon, at the Place Pigalle. Noon is not the hour for crime or wrongdoing. There are too many people on Montmartre Heights. The wealthy Rajah of Yeahbo is courting Piggy, a nice little flower seller at l'Abbaye. This displeases Nutty and is equally displeasing to Cremo both of whom are warm admirers of the fair one. Time goes on. A race is announced. A million dollars in coin is to be the reward of the first one who finds the hidden copy of "The Lyre." A million Cremo and Nutty feel sure they will win. A train passes. Cremo jumps on to the engine and hangs to the buffer and thus arrives at Marseilles the same day in the arena of Marseilles one hundred dollars is offered to the pluckiest bullfighter. Nutty fights the bull with the perilous horns and wins. Then he takes a first cabin aboard a boat just on the point of sailing. Piggy catches the steamer and Cremo swims after his friends and overtakes them at Port Said. Cremo pours out his affections to Piggy in words warmer than the sun. Nutty beside himself, challenges his rival to mortal combat. Armed with their pillows the duelists assail each other with furious blows. Suddenly a storm bursts out. The waves run mountain high; the ship cannot withstand the shock and splits asunder. Amid the flashing lightning the three travelers plunge into the sea and come ashore on the coast of Egypt. Overcome by emotion and fatigue, Nutty falls asleep on the sand. A magnificent alligator taking pity on him, swallows him at a single gulp. Frightened, Piggy and Cremo, who were asleep hard by and who were awakened by the gritting of the teeth of the voracious beast, escape into a neighboring forest, only to fall into the claws of a lion. The lion, however knows a thing or two. He has studied the classics and lets Piggy alone. Nutty's not dead after all, having escaped. All is going well when alas, a horde of savages surround the travelers. They are especially sweet on Piggy in whom they see a toothsome morsel, but thanks to her mystic powers the poor girl hypnotizes the savage set to guard her and they all succeed in escaping, only however, to fall into the hands of some ragged, insolent pirates who bring them before the ruler of the island, who turns out to be no other than the powerful Rajah of Yeahbo. The presence of Piggy rejuvenates the Rajah but offends the jealous Punkette. Nutty and Cremo, intent upon getting that million dollars, plan a flight. Too late; the Rajah discovers all of the two fugitives have to hide themselves behind the statue of the god Buddha. A religious ceremony commences. Punkette, the inexorable priestess of the divinity demands nothing less in her invocation of the goddess than the death of Piggy, accusing her of coming to brave the god in his own eternal temple. The fanatics break loose, weapons a-gleam. Nutty and Piggy come out of their hiding place and all is riot and confusion. The three racers fly like zebras. One fine day the trio arrive at the enchanted isle the goal of their mad race. How great is their surprise when they find "The Lyre" in the hands of a gigantic man-monkey. The monkey, astonished at their advent, flies away with the precious paper but Piggy once more resorts to her mystic powers. She hypnotizes the beast and at last succeeds in obtaining possession of "The Lyre." And now for home. They divide the journal between them. Our racers arrive home with all speed. To get to the capital, Nutty and Piggy charter a balloon whilst the up-to-date Cremo must patronize the latest invention, and hangs on to an aeroplane. Hard luck pursues Cremo. The biplane takes fire in the air and makes a miserable descent in the middle of the lake. Cremo hangs on to the trolley of a car. Truly his life may be said to hang upon a thread. Once again the three friends find themselves reunited in a motor car that Cremo drives to the barrier where it unloads its precious contents. With all speed they fly to the office of "The Lyre," only to find that the proprietor is bankrupt and has fled, leaving only the proverbial "rabbit" in the till and this rabbit is the only prize received by the redoubtable three for their mad chase to the Pacific isle.
- It is the history of the German Revolution and the coalition of the powers of Europe which caused the first rout of Napoleon during the battle of Leipzig on October 10, 1813. Napoleon scoured the whole of Europe and, overwhelmed by his victories, followed the course of his destiny toward a tragic setting. The allied armies had been conquered many times over, but were still undaunted. The protectorate of Napoleon weighed like a yoke over the kingdoms of the Confederation of the Rhine, but the poets, philosophers, and thinkers of the whole of Germany were united in thought, that of relieving their Fatherland from the humiliation which the Emperor with his glory had imposed upon them. The German youth associated in the famous "League of Courage," the Tugendbund, disciplined their minds and their muscles at the sacred fire of an unquenchable thirst for independence. In the printing office of Stein in Nuremburg burns the sacred fire of German patriotism. The news of the defeat of Austerlitz and of the signing of the treaty of Presburgh which puts Bavaria into the hand of Napoleon, casts despair into the minds of all the students who assemble round the printer, John P. Palm. The latter exhorts them not to lose heart and reads to them a page of the fiery pamphlet he is printing and which bears as title, "The Deep Debasement of Germany." The youths become enthusiastic and offer themselves as volunteers to spread the work of Palm throughout Germany. But the pamphlet falls into the hands of Napoleon, who orders the arrest of Palm. By the aid of the students, Karl Worms and Chrysogonus, Palm succeeds in making his escape from Nuremburg and in taking refuge in a mill near the shores of the Pegnitz. This mill is at once transformed into a secret printing office from which are still hurled throughout all Germany proclamations of fire hidden in bags of flour. Such diffusions were specially in charge of two youths. Frederick Loewe and George, the brother of Riecke and Jane, two girls not yet twenty. Frederick loves Riecke. who reciprocates his love. But the grandeur of the work of redemption which is being prepared for the oppressed Fatherland, inspires so much enthusiasm that he decided to start, persuading George to do the same. While they are far off, Worms falls hopelessly in love with Riecke and betrays Frederick, who has placed blind confidence in him. One day, in a wood near the river, he abuses her, and from that day eternal remorse and grief tears his heart and the girl's. Meanwhile Frederick and George in their patriotic pilgrimage are one day provoked by some French officers. George is killed, but Frederick succeeds in making his escape and goes towards his native village, happy at the idea of seeing his Riecke again. At the mill they know already the news of his approaching arrival; Riecke trembles. Frederick arrives, accompanied by other students. Festivities are made at the mill, when all of a sudden they are startled by a cry of alarm. Some French soldiers break into the house and arrest Palm, dragging him away amid the cries and lamentations of all the bystanders. A boy named Jehbel, in order to save his old grandmother who is dying of starvation, tempted by the offered reward, reveals the hiding place of Palm who a few days after ended his noble life, shot by the soldiers of the garrison of Brunau. The campaigns of 1806 and 1807 are over. Frederick has returned to his cottage where his old mother has long been expecting him. He decides to marry sweet Riecke. The day fixed for the marriage has arrived. While all are merry, Karl Worms arrives unexpectedly. The poor Riecke. at seeing again that hated man feels as if in her heart a horrible wound were breaking out afresh. She feels incapable either of making a confession or of telling a lie, and she flees, leaving a short note for Frederick. It is the hour of the betrothal. Riecke , is to be found nowhere, but Frederick sees on the table among the flowers the short note, which tells him of her flight and that she can see him no more. Frederick like a man out of his mind calls her and looks for her, but to no purpose, and finally hears from Jane the sad truth. He looks for Worms to demand an explanation and to vindicate the wrong, but Worms also has fled. Can they have made their escape together? The thirst for revenge increases. He discovers the friend who has betrayed him at a meeting of patriots and he, the dumb statue of revenge, throws at the feet of Worms a sword whilst he, himself, sword in hand stands before him. One of them must die. But while the two adversaries are beginning to fight, a sweet vision stops them. The charming figure of a woman appears to them in a ray of light, the Queen herself. Those swords henceforth will never be raised again but against the enemies of their common country. Frederick has quenched his thirst for revenge in the holy name of his beloved Germany. We are at the days of the great trial, at that gigantic battle which history has called, "the battle of nations." On the funeral plain of Leipzig, the characters of our story are still found near each other. Jehbel, the boy who had betrayed Palm, is now a drummer-boy and washes out by his own blood the shame of his treason. Karl Worms purifies the atrocious remorse in his heart by falling in defense of his flag. Frederick also has fallen near Karl. Riecke wanders like a mad-stricken figure amid the corpses. She discovers the hated Worms and flees in terror, but when she catches sight of Frederick, who is dying, she rushes near him, bends over him and kisses him. "Who has conquered?" asks Frederick with his last breath. "Germany," replies Riecke. She holds his head in her lap, the head of the dearly beloved one who is no more. But the grief of that poor girl lost among the confused crowd of bleeding corpses rising like a sad and lofty symbol; it is the great sacrifice which all the tenderest and greatest of loves must undergo before the shrine of the Fatherland. Poor Riecke no longer cries. Far, far away on the horizon of fire, pass the remainder of the defeated army of Napoleon. And over Germany now dawns the ray of a long expected freedom.
- It is December, 1870. Paris, in the throes of a siege, struggles with the energy of despair. Father Pommier, a painter, and his two sons, Justin and Jean, worthy mechanics, have given up work and taken to arms. It is a rigorous winter, and the discontent of all the improvised soldiers makes itself felt. The valiant fellows weary of inaction, and the announcement that a sortie is about to be made, is enthusiastically received. At night, Pommier and his sons return home and the sufferings of the day, the dead, are forgotten. Now and then the vibrations of a cannon shot shake the house. Suddenly the quiet of the fireside is rudely disturbed by a comrade with the news that Justin's battalion is chosen to effect a night sortie. The days glide away and at the end of January, 1871, the besieged line up and take their turn at the butcher's and baker's. Meanwhile, Mother Pommier goes in search of her son Justin. She questions his comrades, the National Guards, and learns that her son is dead. Meanwhile, there is revolt in the air. Pommier and his son join in the revolt and the mother knows she has another sacrifice to undergo. It is May 24, 1871. The Versailles soldiers enter Paris, and a fearful fratricidal struggle ensues. The batteries of the regular army hurl a hurricane of iron against the famished city. The people are forced to shelter in cellars and underground passages. Troops advance. Patrols search the houses and every man carrying a gun or wearing the uniform of the Federates, or whose hands are stained with gunpowder, is arrested and mercilessly shot. Father Pommier has managed to escape the repression, but he has lost sight of his son, Jean. At the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery the tombs are pillaged. There are corpses everywhere. Thither, braving all danger, comes Mother Pommier, in search of her son. She is taken for a petroleuse and is on the point of being shot, when an officer intervenes and she is spared. That same night Paris is ablaze. Ten years later. Since the war and the death of his sons, Father Pommier has taken to drink. His two daughters, Celine and Cecile, are apprenticed to a dressmaker, but the precocious Celine has not escaped the morbid fascination of the street. She resents her mother's chidings, and runs away to join her lover, a pale-faced ruffian. His sons dead, his daughter gone, the wretched father tries to drown his grief and misery in drink. He imagines himself pursued by mad dogs. His weakened brain finally gives way after a short period of sanity and his wife and daughter find him in the padded cell at St. Anne, where he expires in agony. Worn with grief and privation, the poor mother gradually wastes away. The devoted and loving care of her daughter, Cecile, is her sole comfort. One morning a lamentable creature knocks at the door. Cecile opens, and there, in rags, and starving, stands Celine. The prodigal is welcomed, but cannot adapt herself to the peaceful home. She longs for excitement. One evening, Cecile returns home alone. Her sister has again run away. The mother falls prostrate when she realizes the truth. It is the end; she passes away, leaving Cecile alone to battle with the world.