Author Archive: Retro

Freddie owns a failing old hotel. To attract new business he spreads the rumor that there’s pirate treasure hidden somewhere in the building.

Young Leon Kanter dreams of being a great violinist. His parents scrape up the money for a violin and for lessons, and Leon rewards them by becoming a great player. But as an adult, Leon finds that people want more from him than just music.

Propaganda film based on the autobiography of James W. Gerard, the U.S Ambassador to Germany from 1913-1917. Gerard assisted Nigh in direction, and reportedly had a clause in his contract which stated that the film could not be changed without his consent. Edited by William Nigh, who also has a bit part as a socialist. Dir. Elliot Nugent.

Society-girl thrillseeker Lydia causes the death of motorcylce policeman and is prosecuted by her fiance Daniel who describes in lurid detail the downfall of Rome. While she’s in prison she reforms and Daniel becomes a wasted alocholic

Unlucky office boy is entrusted with huge bank deposit, but doesn’t make it to the bank before it closes, and must keep the cash overnight…disaster can’t be far behind!

Mix is on the trail of his murdering brother-in-law in this compilation of early Mix shorts. COLOR TINTED. Dir. Joseph Kane.

A young man is lured into a cardgame by a crooked dealer. He is about to lose all the money that was given to him to get medicine for his mother when a local cowboy comes to his rescue.

Champagne Mogul tries to teach his frivolous daughter a lesson in responsibility by feigning bankruptcy. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock.

Small-town girl Mary Barry wins a beauty contest and goes to New York to meet D. V. Cortelyou, the magazine’s publisher. Greatly taken by young girl, Cortelyou arranges for her to live with Dolly Griffith, a woman of questionable reputation who often aids him in his wicked schemes of blackmail and seduction. During a party, seemingly in Mary’s honor, Cortelyou obtains some apparently, compromising evidence with which to blackmail Mrs. Young, the wife of a wealthy broker; Cortelyou then makes rough advances toward Mary, and one of his assistants, Jack McGuire, gives him a good beating. Threatened with blackmail, Mrs. Young turns in desperation to Jack for help. Jack and Mary attempt to trap Cortelyou in a net of his own making, but the blackmailer is too smart, outwitting Jack and abducting Mary. Cortelyou also kidnaps Mrs. Young, keeping her and Mary in a deserted house. Jack learns of their whereabouts and arrives with the [...]