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
1-50 of 263
- After a harsh childhood, orphan Jane Eyre is hired by Edward Rochester, the brooding lord of a mysterious manor house, to care for his young daughter.
- Drama about a young man blinded by love.
- Petroff Sementick, a Russian nobleman, becomes ruined financially. His creditors seize all his property and the man becomes a wanderer. He continues this precarious existence until one day he rescues a man from under the wreckage of his turnout. It transpires to be Prince Dimitrieff. In a sudden burst of thankfulness for his deliverance, the Prince retains Sementick as overseer of the palace. Each day's experience drives home to him what a bitter thing it is to eat the bread of others. The great possessions of Princess Sonia only mock her, for the Prince, a man of overbearing vanity, seeks tribute to it in new smiles. Tatiana Leontieff, the Russian imperial Dancer, is his latest conquest. While he basks in the warmth of her calculating smiles, the Princess Sonia wanders alone and forgotten through the palace grounds. Her steps are stayed by the sound of piercingly sweet strains, and thus commences the friendship between the Princess and her vassal which is fostered by their loneliness into a deep love. Tatiana Leontieff tires of her Dimitrieff. A younger noble engages her attention. This noble and the Prince engage in a duel over the dancer. Dimitrieff's life pays the price of his vagrant affections. He closes his eyes on this world in Sonia's presence. She is overwhelmed by grief. Twenty years have passed. Petroff Sementick has degenerated into a simple fellow who is the laughing stock of all. His Princess Sonia had died abroad, leaving a daughter. Sementick, faithful to the memory of his Princess, surrounds her portrait with fragrant flowers each day. Sementick is excited over word that the Princess Olga, Sonia's daughter, is coming with her husband to reside in the palace. Sementick's anguish is terrible to behold. He cannot bear the thought that his daughter will see her father jeered at and a spectacle for all to scorn. But an overwhelming hunger to behold her keeps him from fleeing. The Princess and her husband arrive and accept the rustic entertainment arranged in their honor. Sementick, called upon to do his share, pours forth his heart in the old songs that won the Princess Sonia. Follows a dinner at the palace to a company of notables. After the repast Sementick is called upon to divert them. They ply him with drink, then crown the maudlin with the fool's cap, pelting him with the flowers that decorate Sonia's portrait. At this desecration of his beloved Princess, he regains a terrible lucidity and shouts aloud the secret of his life to the assembled guests. All are shocked by the disclosure. Sementick, fearing the consequences, takes a secret farewell of Sonia's portrait in the morning, before resuming his wanderings. Olga sees him praying before her mother's portrait. A great understanding comes to her. Sementick, on the point of starting from the palace, is called back by the master. He is offered pardon if he will recall his terrible confession. Sementick looks at Olga; her eyes plead with him. He perjures himself. As he turns to leave Olga holds out her arms and bestows upon him a daughter's kiss.
- Herodias, wife of Philip of Iturea, gives her affections to her husband's brother, Herod. Their secret passion is discovered by John the Baptist. He denounces them, but, so great is his power in the land, that none dare silence him. Succumbing to the temptation of Herodias, Herod betrays his brother and casts him into the Prison of Bronze, where he is left to languish. Herodias now plots to rid herself of her husband, and she finally prevails upon a negro servant to go to the Prison of Bronze and strangle him. When Philip is dead, his brother Herod is proclaimed, 'midst great pomp, Tetrarch in his stead. For a time he rules wisely, but can never drive away the pangs of conscience that are his constant companions. Herodias next prevails upon Herod to seize and imprison John the Baptist, who is obtaining a strong hold over the people. Weakly Herod fulfills her wish, and the prophet is cast into the Prison of Bronze. St. John is beloved by Salome, the daughter of Herodias, but he spurns her affection. In vain does she visit him in the Prison of Bronze, and attempts to lure him into her power. Herod becomes possessed of an insurmountable desire to see Salome dance. This desire is discerned by the watchful Herodias and promptly frustrated. The populace begin to demand the release of John the Baptist, and fear possesses Herodias lest he should be liberated and again denounce her to the people. The visit to Herod of the Roman judges is an occasion for much feasting and merrymaking. It is at a feast given in honor of his guests that Herod requests Salome to dance. She refuses, but Herod maintains his entreaties, and finally says that he will give her anything she cares to ask for it she will dance. Salome is puzzled what to accept, but her mother creeps to her side, and, like the evil serpent, suggests that she shall ask for the head of John the Baptist. Spurned affection turns to hate of a like intensity, and Salome sees in this her chance to avenge the affront offered her by St. John. She asks tor his head. Herod regrets his rash promise, but his regrets are soon charmed away by the witchery of the dancer. When Salome has finished dancing the head is brought to her. The sight of this strikes terror to the heart of Herod, and he sees his guests shrinking from him in disgust. Too late, he seeks to repair the evil done by commanding his soldiers to seize Salome and put her to death.
- Emperor Maximian, having married his daughter, Fausta, to Constantine, renounced the purple and went into retirement, but the enforced idleness and his desire for power and action, induced him to again resume the imperial power. In the field near Lodi, where the oath of allegiance of the army has been received, Maximian begins his triumphant return, and we see him again amid the people crowding the streets, impatient to see him again. He enters the imperial court where Constance, a sister of Constantine, and Licinius, the young Caesar of Illyrium, and Fausta are waiting the arrival of their august relation. The love affair between Constance and Licinius is discovered by Fausta, who has instructions to prevent this alliance from being consummated, as Maximian himself has set his heart on winning Constance. As soon as he enters the palace, and the tumult of greetings cease, he goes into the ladies' room and, dismissing Fausta with a sign, is left alone with Constance, whom he tries to win through flattery, but she refuses him. She goes secretly to St. Maternus and listens to his inspiring words, receiving the right of Christian baptism from his hands. Fausta, having followed Constance, sees all and hastens to tell her father of her discovery. Maximian orders a banquet in the hope that the allurements of pleasure will break down the stubborn defense of Constance. Even this fails, for Constance does not even go near the banqueting room. Maximian then calls together the pagan priests; he annuls his decree, giving tolerance to Christianity. Thousands of confessors of Christ will fall. Constance alone, by giving herself up, will be able to appease the bloody sword of the persecutor. He forces the young neophyte, Constance, to be present at the gladiatorial games. A populace present at the games at the hecatomb of martyrs. The heart of the young Christian girl undergoes a terrible martyrdom, but the bravery of these martyrs gives the girl the firmness that only faith can produce. Maximian, again failing in his attempt to win Constance, tries again, and goes to the field of Lodi and, summoning the army, he orders incense to be thrown upon the pagan tripod. Here again Christian heroes give up their lives to their faith, their bodies are carried in chariots before the imperial seat, before the eyes of Fausta and Constance. Realizing that there is no peace in the court of Maximian for her, she, with her companions, mount their horses and rush to the Court of Constantine. Here exists no bacchanalian orgy, but the sweet calm of virtue. Constantine, amid the lowly, the oppressed and the poor, does his work of upright government. Constance tells her powerful brother all of the horrible plots in which she has been involved and the terrors she has seen. In the meantime, Maximian and Fausta plot the death of Constantine and send the corrupt centurian, Elvius Brutus, to execute the treasonable deed. Through a trick, this design is frustrated, but Brutus is led to believe that his work has been carried out and he tells Maximian, who comes before the gallis coharts, exclaiming: "Constantine is dead. I am your emperor!" "Constantine is living!" interrupts a powerful voice, and the austere monarch appears among a crowd of faithful followers. Maximian is put to death and Fausta, fearing the penalty for her part in the plot, rushes word to her brother, Maxentius, in Rome, who declared war on Constantine. Gathering his coharts together, Constantine crosses the snowy Alps and carries the war into Italy. As day is declining, Constantine, unable to rest, paces to and fro between the tents when, at last, his eyes catch sight of something dazzling in the direction of the sun. He sees a splendid cross in the blue heaven in all its glory, with the inscription: "In Hoc Signo Vincis," but the Emperor, not comprehending the meaning of this sign, was further instructed in the clear night where a vision of the Lord Himself appeared, telling him: "By this sign you will conquer," and directing him to engrave the Holy Cross on his shields. The army resumes its march toward Rome, exulting at the miracle. Meeting the army of Maxentius on the Banks of the Tiber, the battle wages fiercely for hours, but eventually, the followers of Maxentius are put to rout and retreat across the Tiber on bridges made of boats, which give way, carrying Maxentius and his men to their death. Having made his triumphal entry into Rome, the first thought of Constantine is to pay homage to the chief of Christianity, Pontifex St. Melchiades. He prostrates himself at his feet, together with the dutiful Constance and promises to give Christianity free liberty and, as a token of filial reverence, gives the magnificent palace of the Lateran, to be the mother church of all the churches of the world. We see Constantine in his triumphant dress in the same imperial hall where the last bloody persecution had begun. Licinius hastens to Milan to joint his beloved Constance, and has signed the decree giving full liberty to Christianity. He is flanked by a victorious host and looks at the people crowded and acclaiming while the herald reads the imperial messages, "We, Constantine and Licinius Augustus, being at Milan to make joint treaties concerning the welfare and security of our people amongst the things which we deem enhancing the prosperity of our subjects, we specially give importance to those that have reference to the homage due to the Divinity and thus we have given to the Christians and to all citizens of the Roman people the liberty to follow the form of faith which each one may severally prefer." The forum is deserted, the darkness of night prevails and Constantine is alone in his hall lighted up by the soft rays falling from a lamp; he holds in his hands a little tablet containing the decree and is meditating. A few lines contain the history of the world. He closes his eyes and before his mind appears in review the facts which led Christianity to victory after so many centuries of bloodshed. Footsteps awaken the Emperor. Constance and Licinius, with their arms interlocked, enter. Constantine sees and smiles. In the triumph of faith and justice, innocent love also has its victory.
- A crime of extraordinary daring has at last set the police on the track of the notorious Martin Fierro. At bay, the bandits make a brave resistance, but they are overcome, and Fierro himself is struck down not, however, before consigning his little daughter to safety by means of a secret passage. Orphaned and unprotected, the little child is found and adopted by the philanthropist, Lord Felton, justly known as the "Father of the London Poor." Discovering his protégée's parentage, the good man shows the world how change of circumstances and environment may overcome even the power of heredity. Many years pass. The adopted girl, now Lady Felton, has inherited her self-appointed guardian's fortune on his death. She lives a life of luxury, and spends large sums for the benefit of the poor. Meanwhile a series of robberies have aroused the curiosity of London. At the scene of each crime is found a visiting card of the name, "Satanella," bearing a coronet and the motto, "To rob the unjust rich. - To give to the poor." Satanella, who is none other than Lady Felton, resolves to give up her unusual form of charity, finding discovery imminent, but is persuaded to run the risk of detection once more by the sad story of a woman who has fallen into the usurious clutches of a banker named Jacob. A masked ball is held at Lady Felton's mansion, and Jacob is among the guests. During the festivities Satanella enters the banker's study, and, though the money she requires is missing, seizes a document severely compromising Jacob in his relations with the nation. The banker returns from the ball, and finds the usual card in the place of the stolen document, bearing the message that she will come back at midnight for the money she requires, or will betray him to the police. Jacob forms a plot to assassinate her, and forces her lover, Lord Humphrey, whom he had once helped in a time of ill luck, and had since retained in his debt and power, to comply with his intention. Satanella, however, who has heard their plans in hiding, is ready for them when she arrives. She cleverly seizes the money, and hides her escape in the smoke of a small bomb. Determined to save Humphrey, Satanella forces Jacob to relinquish her lover's I.O.U. in exchange for his own incriminating document, but the banker is able to identify her with Lady Felton. The police arrive to arrest her, but the philanthropic criminal boldly accuses Jacob of treachery to his country, and, during the confusion caused by his attempt to escape, disappears by a secret door in a picture frame. Hopeless attempts are made to follow her, but the impenetrable veil of mystery has closed upon Satanella.
- At Domremy, a town situated close to the river Meuse, little Joan, the daughter of Jacques d'Arc, heard the tales of the war which was then devastating her country. Mercenary troops of the Duke of Armagnor fought in defense of King Charles VII. They were opposed by the soldiers of the Duke of Burgundy, allied with the English. Devastation and pillage followed in their wake. The peasantry passed their days in wretchedness and terror, hanging round the castles imploring aid and assistance. It was a constant din of battle, galloping horses and the clash of arms. All houses were solidly barred. Joan lived thus in the midst of trouble and anxiety. At times the sound of distinct and melodious bells reached her ears when tending her sheep and cattle in the meadows. She knelt for hours, listening to those mysterious and sweet sounds. One evening she heard a voice calling her in the sweetest tone imaginable. The maiden knelt; a great flood of light dazzled her. St. Michael was standing before the bewildered girl and spoke to her. His words sounded like music to her ear, "Beloved Joan, hearken to the duty that lies before thee. Go to Lord Baudricourt and then to the King. Ask for arms and soldiers, and fight the enemies of France." Some days later, St. Margaret and St. Catharine appeared to Joan and confirmed St. Michael's order, encouraging her and recommending, at the same time, virtue and resolution. Joan was now firmly assured of her mission. The Lord of Baudricourt receives Joan's supplication with derision. "I do not believe a word of all this," says he to Joan's uncle, who has accompanied her, "She is dismissed." Bertrand de Poulangy, a young man secretly in love with Joan, entreats her not to despair. He accompanies her on a second visit to the Lord of Vaucouleur and she finally succeeds. Baudricourt consents to furnish Joan with a small body of knights who will accompany her to the King. Joan, accompanied by Bertrand, puts on a coat of mail, girds her sword and mounting her steed rides at the head of her squires to the castle of Chinon, the actual residence of the King. More than three hundred barons and feudal lords of the realm were then assembled at the King's Court. Desirous of judging for himself whether Joan's mission was really inspired, the King disguises as a courtier, among whom he mixes. Joan enters amid the assemblage. Her rustic beauty causes quite a flutter; the ladies whisper, the knights admire her. Without the least hesitation, she walks straight up to the King, before whom she kneels and says, "Kindly Dauphin, I am Joan the Virgin, from Domremy. The King of Heaven has sent me to say that through my humble offices you will truly become King of France." Joan not only convinces the King of her heavenly mission, but also the King's councilors, all learned prelates, who ply her with numerous and intricate questions. The brilliant career of the Virgin Warrior has begun. At the head of ten thousand men Joan starts for Orleans. The French array was defending the city heroically, but has been reduced to extremities through lack of provisions. Joan crosses the Loire, gives battle, and on the evening of May 1, 1429, the glorious Virgin makes a triumphant entry into the beleaguered city. The next day she discusses with Dunois, commander of the city and the officers of the garrison, her plan of defense and studies the position of the enemy. Anxious and filled with pity for the many lives which must necessarily be lost through warfare, Joan shoots a missive into the English camp. She implores the Englishmen in the name of Heaven not to shed blood ruthlessly, but to raise the siege and depart in peace. This message is received with jeers and taunts, which affect Joan to tears. For fourteen hours the battle raged. One after the other the strong towers on the bridge were taken, and finally the English were forced to raise the siege. Joan, following up her advantage, pursues the flying horde and completely routs the English at the battle of Patay. Talbot was taken prisoner. Night falls on the field of battle. The heroic maiden helps the wounded. The tidings of Joan's magnificent victory stirs the Court and the vacillating King. Joan is received with unusual honors and succeeds in persuading Charles to go to Rheims, there to be crowned King of France in the sacred cathedral of that ancient city. The imposing pageant of the Dauphin Charles' triumphal procession, led by Joan holding aloft her standard, fills the population with enthusiasm and joy. As Joan proceeds, women and girls kiss the hem of her mantle; her path is strewn with roses. On July 11, 1429, the Dauphin Charles is duly crowned King of France, and thus it came to pass that the second part of Joan's mission was fulfilled. Joan is on the eve of returning to her native home when renewed activities of the English convince her that her task is not yet completed and cannot be until she has driven them all from French soil. However, the King's inborn pusillanimity, fostered by the envy, malice and hatred of both the Court and the Clergy, causes him to take an unwise and undignified course. He commands Joan to lay down her arms and retire in one of the royal residences. With intense sorrow, Joan places her sword and spurs and armor on the altar of Saint Denis. Many of her companions and soldiers are in tears. The people hold her in veneration and accompany her, singing hymns and acclaiming her frantically. Mothers bring their sick children to her; she blesses and restores them to health. Joan frets over her inactivity; the Duke of Burgundy's troops are still active and Joan longs to go out and meet them. One morning she starts at the head of her army and leads it under the walls of Paris. Despite the fact that she has been wounded, she again leads her forces to the attack, but is again repulsed. Finally she retires to Compiegne, when, falling into a trap, she is taken prisoner by John of Luxembourg. Joan's star is fading. She is kept a prisoner; her faithful Bertrand succeeds in reaching her in prison and endeavors to make a way for her escape. Joan of Arc heeds not the divine "voices" that remonstrate with her. In her rash attempt she falls on the rocks at the foot of the tower where she was imprisoned and is once more a captive. John of Luxembourg, greatly terrified, the effect of a demoralizing dream, delivers Joan into the hands of the English for the paltry sum of $10,000. Joan is accused of witchcraft. In her prison she is subjected to the insults of her guards and noblemen. Her confessor, the priest Loyseleur, betrays her. She is taken before the inquisition tribunal, which cross-examines her severely. Her replies to the subtle questions of the judges are dignified. The tribunal is confused, but inexorable. Joan is condemned to death by fire. Joan, dressed in white, is led to her doom. Loyseleur, the groveling monk, implores her forgiveness for his treachery. Bertrand, her faithful attendant, showers roses to her as a last tribute of love and respect. She ascends to the scaffold and is tied to the stake. She asks for a cross, which is given to her and which she kisses, praying at the same time for her enemies and invoking the saints. The flames surround Joan; her head droops, her lips faintly murmur the name of the Crucified and her noble and immortal soul appears to be home up to heaven by heavenly messengers. Even her enemies wept and were heard to say, "We have burned a saint."
- Theresa is left an orphan and harassed by her father's creditors. She sells her small property and even her mother's jewels, but still it is not sufficient. Brown, the avaricious superintendent, reports further debts and takes for himself the family plate, while Henry Roncory wishes to gain her love. Victimized by all, the poor girl sends for her cousin and lover, Albert, who, having no money, can only console her. Together they plead with their avaricious uncle, a ship-owner, who is setting off for Australia in his private boat, but he refuses to give them an answer. Meanwhile Roncory and Brown conspire, the one to win the girl, the other to seize the fortune. Far away a storm has wrecked the ship-owner's vessel, and he is drifting in mid-ocean with a sailor, Martin. Overcome by privation and sickness, the old man entrusts to Martin a paper giving directions as to the whereabouts of his buried fortune, and dies. Martin is rescued and comes home to deliver his trust to Theresa, but is met by Brown, and lets out his secret. Brown hastily steals the document and hurls Martin down a cliff. Roncory, however, has witnessed the crime and compels Brown to share the spoils on pain of denunciation. Tony, a half-witted boy living on Theresa's estate, and who is ill-treated by Brown, overhears the plot and goes to help Martin. The body has disappeared, but one-half of the will is found on the shore in an iron case. Tony meets Albert and together they go to take the will to Theresa. The cousins are mystified since the explanatory directions are missing. Brown's wife unconsciously solves the problem by offering Theresa her box of savings to aid her in her financial difficulties, not knowing that her husband had hidden the other precious half of the will in there. Overjoyed at this discovery, the cousins hurry to the box hidden in the north corner of the garden near the well. There a dreadful sight meets their eyes. Money and papers are littered over the disturbed ground, and terrible groans are heard from the depths of the well. The two rivals, Roncory and Brown, such is the hatred prompted by avarice, have plunged down to death together, fighting for Theresa's inheritance.
- In obedience to her father's wishes, Louise marries Dr. Hortz, a chemist, although she really loves Richard Marx, a childhood friend of the doctor. The doctor is so interested in experimenting for a chemical formula that will transform ail organic matter into cellulose, that he fails to give his wife proper attention. After two years he succeeds in finding the long sought formula, but his limited means prevent him from bringing his discovery before the world. After years of travel, Richard Marx returns a wealthy man and meets his old friend, the doctor. He is interested in the discovery and furnishes the money for his enterprise. One night the doctor is alone in the factory when a fire breaks out. In his desperate efforts to save all that was possible, the doctor goes into Richard's office and gathers all available papers. Among these are the love letters which Louise had written to Richard before her marriage. The doctor reads them and is prostrated by the news, and feeling that he is in the way of his wife's happiness, he decides to leave the city and go west. All believe him dead, and later the factory fails. His wife and their son, Frank, are left penniless, so Frank decides to go west in search of a fortune. One night, in a saloon out west, Frank gets into an argument with a cowboy and accidentally shoots him. The feeling against Frank is very strong and he is captured, and the cowboys plan to end his life. The sheriff is advised of their action while in the saloon, and while he is being told of the shooting, he discovers a tiny gold chain on the floor, which he recognizes. He immediately rushes to the spot where Frank is about to be killed and at once recognizes him as his own son and frees him. Dr. Hortz had become the sheriff of the county. They then leave for home, and Louise, who is so overcome by the sight of her husband whom she had believed dead, dies in his arms.
- The story is woven about Michael Rosminia, a dangerous revolutionist. The police are hot on his trail. He realizes that his only hope of safety lies in a hasty flight. Just as he is embracing his wife and daughter, ready to depart, the door is suddenly burst open and the police arrive to take Rosminia away. He languishes in his cell while his wife implores the superintendent of police for mercy. "Tell me the name of the accomplices," he says, "and, perhaps, your husband will be pardoned." But this Rosminia, who is at present on a cross examination, forbids. He is taken back to his cell and one night, while pacing up and down unable to sleep, he discovers that through some carelessness of the guard the door of the prison is unlocked. With feverish hands he opens it and finds himself in the vast courtyard of the prison, which had formerly been a convent. Concealing himself in a cache of the wall until the watchman passes, he gets out of the prison walls undetected. The love for his family pulls his footsteps once more to his little home to say a last farewell. While there, his escape is discovered. The booming of the guns announces it to Rosminia. He tears himself away and makes the boundary line in safety. The police are hot on his trail and catching sight of an old mill, throws himself on the mercy of the old miller, who hides him in an aqueduct which is free from water. The police arrive and, not finding him, turn to leave, when a diabolical idea seizes their leader and he pulls the lever, which allows the water to rush into the aqueduct, which holds the unfortunate Nihilist. He miraculously escapes and goes into exile. The news of the supposed disaster reaches his wife and the shock kills her. Several years have elapsed and the child, who was adopted by the head of the police, marries and becomes Countess Lombard. She alone knows of her father's existence, until one day the chauffeur, who is infatuated with his mistress and has been threatened with instant dismissal for his presumption, finds the evidence of what he supposes is an intrigue, which he immediately takes to the Count. That night the Count goes to the garden and, as a figure muffled in a coat makes his appearance, the Count fires, only to find that he has shot his wife's father. They hide him in the house until after he recovers. The law, knowing no mercy, the poor man again departs into exile.