Author Archive: Retro

Although the story line to this sentimental drama was ridiculously simple, director Renaud Hoffman managed to fill out five reels by adding a lot of warm, domestic touches. Robert Moore (David Torrence) achieves great wealth while his brother John (Willis Marks), a small farmer, has to struggle to support his wife (Ethel Wales) and seven children (Mary McLane, Billy Bonwin, Newton Hause, Miriam Ballah, Dick Winslow, Buck Black, and Thayer Strain). In spite of all his money, Robert feels his life is empty, so he writes John, offering him a nice house and a good allowance if he will let him have one of his children. John and his wife try to choose one child while the kids are sleeping, but they can’t bear to let any of them go. The next day, they decide that the oldest girl, who has musical talent, should go to Robert, since he can give her opportunities that they [...]

Devious bookie has a plan to ruin his rival for the affections of a judge’s daughter. “The Whip” is an uncontrollable but fleet-footed racehorse around which the story revolves. Dir. Maurice Tourneur.

Directed by Ernst Lubistch

Rich old Cyrus West’s relatives are waiting for him to die sothey can inherit. But he stipulates that his will be read 20 yearsafter his death. On the appointed day his expectant heirs arriveat his brooding mansion. The will is read and it turns out thatAnnabelle West, the only heir with his name left, inherits, if sheis deemed sane. If she isn’t, the money and some diamonds goto someone else, whose name is in a sealed envelope. Beforehe can reveal the identity of her successor to Annabelle, Mr.Crosby, the lawyer, disappears. The first in a series of mysterious events, some of which point to Annabelle in factbeing unstable.

Returning home from the Great War, “Breezy” Hart (Fred Humes) and his shell-shocked buddy Frank Wilcox (Ralph McCullough) discover the Wilcox property in the hands of evil Sam Hardy (William Norton Bailey). Frank, who is the rightful heir to the ranch, goes into hiding, while “Breezy” takes a job in the ranch kitchen. Learning of Frank’s whereabouts, Hardy plots to have the young heir killed. Luckily, Breezy overhears the villain plotting with his henchmen and is able to rescue his friend. Hardy and his men are arrested, and Frank, now cured of his illness, is reunited with his girl, June Marston (Nita Cavalier). Breezy, meanwhile, is busy romancing his kitchen staff colleague, Mary Jane (Louise Lorraine). Director William Wyler, a distant relative of Universal’s founder, Carl Laemmle), began his distinguished career helming Fred Humes and Ted Wells program Westerns.

The true life story of Harry Tracy.

When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.

About a vicious highway man in the 1700’s

Three men in London compete for the love of a dance-hall girl.