Bits of Life(1921)

The Forecast(en)

Wealthy bachelor Forest Keene lives in a mansion with his nephew Rex Booth and housekeeper Janet. Rex and Janet are in love with each other, but Keene objects to the match threatening disinheritance in the event of a marriage. Gifted with an ancient knife, Keene nods off holding it, falling into a nightmare where he sees the ruination of them all because of his obstinacy. Awakening he realizes the folly of his objections and gives his consent to Rex and Janet’s union.

Genius Party(ja)

The seven short films making up GENIUS PARTY couldn’t be more diverse, linked only by a high standard of quality and inspiration. Atsuko Fukushima’s intro piece is a fantastic abstraction to soak up with the eyes. Masaaki Yuasa, of MIND GAME and CAT SOUP fame, brings his distinctive and deceptively simple graphic style and dream-state logic to the table with “Happy Machine,” his spin on a child’s earliest year. Shinji Kimura’s spookier “Deathtic 4,” meanwhile, seems to tap into the creepier corners of a child’s imagination and open up a toybox full of dark delights. Hideki Futamura’s “Limit Cycle” conjures up a vision of virtual reality, while Yuji Fukuyama’s "Doorbell" and "Baby Blue" by Shinichiro Watanabe use understated realism for very surreal purposes. And Shoji Kawamori, with “Shanghai Dragon,” takes the tropes and conventions of traditional anime out for very fun joyride.

Eros(en)

A three-part anthology about love and sexuality: a menage-a-trois between a couple and a young woman on the coast of Tuscany; an advertising executive under enormous pressure at work, who, during visits to his psychiatrist, is pulled to delve into the possible reasons why his stress seems to manifest itself in a recurring erotic dream; a story of unrequited love about a beautiful, 1960s high-end call girl in an impossible affair with her young tailor.

The Deep Purple(en)

Doris Moore is a country girl who is conned by two crooks, Harry Leland and Pop Clark. They convince the naive girl to come with them to New York City and play the badger game on William Lake. But the intervention of Kate Fallon, who runs the gang's New York home, saves the innocent and traps the guilty. Instead of tricking Lake, Doris marries him.

Somehow Good(en)

Woman Wise(en)

In Jedda, Persia, American consul George Gage, known as a woman hater, is shocked when his newly arrived assistant, "Billie Baxter," whom he assumes will be a man, turns out to be an attractive woman. Despite his formerly anti-female leanings, George finds himself falling in love with Billie and is jealous when his womanizing friend, Brad Wilson, arrives in Jedda and makes a play for her. At the same time, when the ruling Pasha, Abdul Mustapha, meets Billie, he also becomes smitten and tries to have her brought to his harem. Despite their rivalry, George and Brad join forces and save Billie from the Pasha, after which she decides that George is the man she loves and wants to marry. Considered a lost film.

Richelieu(en)

Based on a play by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Originally released in six reels, but later cut to four due to poor reviews. A lost film.

Dust(en)

Marion Moore, a young woman from a wealthy family, and her encounter with the harsh realities of industrial labor. Her sweetheart, Frank Kenyon, exposes the appalling working conditions in her father's factory, particularly the plight of a young worker, Mina, whose hand is mangled in a machine. Marion initially resists confronting her father, but a visit to Mina's home, forced by Frank, changes her perspective.

The Medallion(en)

The story is laid in Italy, during the 17th century, and concerns itself with the love and suffering of David, a great painter. Unknown to David, his betrothed has a brother in prison, and his shame is kept hidden for the honor of the family. This brother, escaping from his cell, goes by night to his sister's room. David, coming to serenade her, sees the brother leave her window; thinking her false, casts her off, and she is too proud to tell him the truth. David, heartbroken, goes to a monastery to seek refuge from the world in seclusion. While there, he learns the truth. A great revulsion of feeling takes place in his heart. A mock sees his grief and begs him seek solace in painting a masterpiece for the altar. This he does, but is stricken to the heart. Gianetta on her way to church sees him weak and ill, crossing the plaza. She follows to his studio in the church. There they come to understand each other, but too late.

The Reward of Thrift(en)

Ironworker Ned is putting money aside for a rainy day unlike his two sandhog co-workers Bill and Grogan who spend most of their money at the saloon. One day on the job Ned is saved from severe injury by Bill and Grogan tries to convince him to take advantage of Ned’s gratitude to extort some money. Later Ned and Grogan get into an argument and Grogan sworn to revenge attempts to get Bill to drown Ned, but the plan goes awry. Bill and Ned reconcile, eventually becoming business partners, Grogan goes to jail.

The Decameron(it)

A young Sicilian is swindled twice, but ends up rich; a man poses as a deaf-mute in a convent of curious nuns; a woman must hide her lover when her husband comes home early; a scoundrel fools a priest on his deathbed; three brothers take revenge on their sister's lover; a young girl sleeps on the roof to meet her boyfriend at night; a group of painters wait for inspiration; a crafty priest attempts to seduce his friend's wife; and two friends make a pact to find out what happens after death.

The Despoiler(en)

Wealthy miner, Ben Cameron's son, Bruce, becomes the criminal "The Shadow" after being disinherited for spendthrift ways and theft. "The Shadow" attempts to extort money from Mary, Cameron's former love who is married to a struggling bookkeeper. Eventually he is shot and killed by his father, Ben, during a confrontation over the extortion attempt. In the end, Cameron collapses in grief, while Mary and her husband remain unaware of the dramatic events.

To Each His Own Cinema(fr)

Commissioned to mark the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "To Each His Own Cinema" brought together 33 of the world's pre-eminent filmmakers to produce short pieces exploring the multifarious facets of cinema and their perspective on the state of their chosen artform in the early 21st century.

Mixed Wires(en)

Insurance adjuster John Smith leaves for a nearby town to adjust a loss. He tells Mrs. Smith that he will be home in a few days. Traveling salesman John Smith leaves for a short business trip. He also tells Mrs. Smith to expect him in a few days. Salesman John wires his wife that he will be held up until the next day. Adjuster John Smith wires his wife that he will be home on the midnight express and to have lunch ready for him. The messages get crossed and many comical misunderstandings results until all is happily resolved.

The Jilt(en)

Roy Norman and Marie Thompson are betrothed. However, a friend of Roy's, Allan Boyd, arrives and he and Marie are mutually attracted to each other. This attraction leads Marie to return the engagement ring to Roy. One evening, Marie pretends to have a headache to stay home from the opera with her parents, dismissing her maid, expecting a visit from Allan. Instead, Roy arrives, sees Marie with Boyd, and discovers their relationship. Later, Allan's brother, Dr. Boyd, informs Roy that Marie has been in an eastern hospital and has given birth to a baby. He shares a statement from Marie naming the father. A year later, Allan marries, having seemingly forgotten Marie.

The Deception(en)

Discovering the day before her marriage that her fiancé is already married Violet Day has a breakdown. To recover her physician, Dr. King advises her to spend several months in the mountains. After some time there she meets young mountaineer Tom Sexton. The couple are smitten both thinking the other is a native of the area. Tom had also been sent to the region by Dr. King and when the doctor arrives for a vacation the pair both swear him to secrecy, much to his amusement.

Boys Life(en)

Each of the three short films in this collection presents a young gay man at the threshold of adulthood. In "Pool Days," Justin is a 17-year old Bethesda lad, hired as the evening life guard at a fitness center. In the course of the summer, he realizes and embraces that he's gay. In "A Friend of Dorothy," Winston arrives from upstate for his freshman year at NYU. He has to figure out, with some help from Anne, a hometown friend, how to build a social life as a young gay man in the city. In "The Disco Years," Tom looks back on 1978, the year in high school that he came out of the closet after one joyful and several painful encounters

Two Can Play(xx)

Dorothy Hammis (Bow), the daughter of wealthy financier John Hammis (Fawcett), has chosen as her fiance James Radley (Forrest), but her father disproves of him. He hires Robert McWorth (MacDonald), a former pilot, to discredit Radley by exposing indescretions in either his past or present contuct. McWorth leaves some valuable pearls for Radley to steal, but this plan fails, so he arranges for himself, Radley and Dorothy to become stranded on a desert island. Ultimately, Radley proves himself as the better man. After surviving both the elements and McWorth's scheming, he and Dorothy are married. This film is lost.

The Ancient Mariner(en)

Doris Matthews, a beautiful, innocent young girl, forsakes her sweetheart, Joel Barlowe, in favor of Victor Brant, a wealthy roué. On the night before they are to elope, an old sailor gives Brant a strange potion to drink and then unfolds before his eyes "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Deeply touched by this story about the consequences of the wanton destruction of innocent beauty, Brant leaves without Doris. After some time, he returns and finds to his pained satisfaction that Doris, having overcome her infatuation for him, has again turned her tender attentions toward Joel.

Prostitution II(de)

About a deceptive bourgeois couple that blends their acquaintances into their dubious business.