The Reckless Sex

Today and Tomorrow(hu)

Today and Tomorrow (Hungarian: Ma és holnap) is a 1912 film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Gyula Abonyi and Jenőné Veszprémy.

The Lure of Jade(en)

Devdas(bn)

Devdas, the son of a zamindar, and Parvati, his neighbour's daughter, are childhood sweethearts. However, class and caste differences prevent their marriage. Devdas is sent off to Calcutta, while Paro is married off to an aged rich widower. In Calcutta, as remorse drives him to alcohol, Devdas meets Chandramukhi, a prostitute. All Indian prints of this Bengali version were destroyed in a fire that ravaged New Theatre’s studios. Today, only one copy of the film survives which belongs to the Bangladesh Film Archives. Of that copy almost forty percent is destroyed.

Darling Mine(en)

Persuaded by a letter from her Aunt Agnes in America, Kitty McCarthy ( Olive Thomas ) travels from Ireland to New York City, there she meets Gordon Davis, a successful playwright, who directs her to her aunt's address on the East Side. Kitty soon discovers her aunt living in a tenement, a confirmed alcoholic. Through her niece's care, Agnes is cured, and one day Davis appears and offers Kitty a part in a comedy that he has written. She accepts, and once backstage meets Vera Maxwell, the victim of an unhappy affair with Oscar Savoy. Kitty brings the lovelorn couple back together but is unsuccessful in arranging her own romance with Davis' nephew Roger until Davis finally intervenes, and a happy ending prevails for all.

The Angel of Contention(en)

Nettie is beloved by all the boys in the mining camp. Magoon, a big, jovial miner, loves her most of all, however, and asks her to become his wife. Nettie is in love with Colter, a young Easterner, and though it pains her to do so, tells Magoon of the fact. Magoon leaves town to become sheriff of the adjoining county. A murder is committed in the mining camp, and Colter is unjustly accused. Nettie rescues him from jail and sends him to Magoon. The sheriff with admirable self-sacrifice hides his rival, and, when the posse arrives, points out what Nettie has done for the boys of the mining camp. Colter is released, and all the boys escort him back to Nettie.

His Lesson(en)

This shows the regeneration of a gang leader, who remains true to his first sweetheart after his change of fortune.

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.

The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds(en)

During the American Revolution, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr are both courting beautiful Margaret Moncrieffe. Fast-forward several years and they again find themselves on opposite sides, this time about compensation for the properties of Tories--colonists who sided with the British--during the war. Hamilton falls for Maria Reynolds, who it turns out is secretly the wife of prominent pawnbroker Jacob Clingman, a friend of Burr's. The pair conspire to destroy Hamilton, who is now Secretary of the Treasury and married to the daughter of a prominent army general, by making public several love letters Hamilton had written to Mrs. Reynolds.

Just a Song at Twilight(en)

Wealthy Lucy Winter falls in love itinerant gardener George Turner much to her father's chagrin. In flashback we find there is a deep seated reason for his truculence, one that caused great sorrow to all. In time things are resolved after much soul searching.

Youth(en)

Wealthy young sculptor Harold Harcourt has always used his wife Elena as his model and inspiration. But after a few years he aspires to create a magnificent work of art… a statue of "Youth," yet feels Elena lacks that indefinable "something," which spells Youth. Callously disregarding her feelings, he tells her she is too old turning to Ione whom he sees as the perfect model for his greatest work. As the inevitable follows Elena, broken-hearted, turns to former suitor Julian, who offers solace. Tempted to run away with Julian, she instead goes away alone leaving a note for her husband saying she trusts in him to save the situation. Conscience stricken, he smashes the work of art he has created to make amends and secure his wife's forgiveness.

T'Other Dear Charmer(en)

To raise funds for the American effort in The Great War heiress Betty Hallowell decides to lease her beautiful country house to Mrs. Wentworth, a wealthy widow whose son Tom is recuperating from injuries received overseas. When Mrs. Wentworth suddenly demands the services of a maid for the summer, Betty, unable to secure a servant on such short notice, dons a dark wig and poses as "French maid Bettina." Tom and “Bettina” fall in love much to his mother’s dismay but when the deception is finally revealed all ends well.

Three Green Eyes(en)

Lucille Vale is in love with struggling architect Paul Arden, but her mother believes that Allen Granat is a more suitable match. Lucille's mother prevails, and Lucille leaves Paul a note in their secret hiding place saying that she is going to marry Allen. Paul is injured when thrown from a horse and does not receive the note. He is nursed back to health in the home of entomologist Thomas Wiggan, whose son Johnnie is in love with Marion Vale, Lucille's younger sister. Two years later, Lucille and Allen return to the estate, very much in love, and engage Paul's services. The note is found, still waiting in the secret hiding place. After many complications, and with the help of her friend Suzanne Russell, Lucille recovers the possibly incriminating note.

The Snob(en)

Two schoolteachers, married for love, are parted by the husband's obsessive desire for wealth and social position.

The Crystal Gazer(en)

Rose Jorgenson, a poor tenement dweller who lives with her daughters Rose and Norma in a slum and whose husband is in prison, finds out that he is to be electrocuted. Distraught, she commits suicide. The children are adopted--Rose by the wealthy Judge Keith, who brings her up in the lap of luxury, and Norma by a poor neighbor, who raises her in the squalid tenement she was born in. After they reach adulthood Norma is hired as an assistant to the shady hypnotist Caistro, who also knows Rose and notices the strong resemblance between the two. Complications ensue.

A Gutter Magdalene(en)

Maida Carrington goes to the city with gambler Jack Morgan but flees after witnessing him stealing money from Steve Boyce. Joining the Salvation Army, she meets a now destitute Steve in need of help. In time they fall in love and Steve proposes, but Maida feels guilt that her past association caused his downfall. She determines to find Morgan and reclaim Steve’s money, but when she does, he refuses, and a struggle follows resulting in Maida accidentally shooting Morgan with his own gun. The sheriff, aware of the gambler reputation, releases her and she and Steve marry.

Mothers-in-Law(en)

Farmer's son David Wingate marries city girl Vianna Courtleigh over his parents' objections. Her father gives him a job with the company; a baby is born to the young couple; but their happiness is marred by David's desire for a quiet domestic life in opposition to Vianna's love of excitement. David's mother comes to live with them when her husband dies. She observes their unhappiness and, after deciding that Vianna is at fault, determines to teach her a lesson. Eventually Vianna sees the folly of her ways and seeks forgiveness from David.

Vendetta(de)

In Corsica, Marianna Paoli's brother is killed by an Englishman whose identity is unknown to her. She swears vengeance and tracks the killer to Monte Carlo. There she falls in love with a handsome young officer, only to discover that he is the murderer she has sworn to punish.

The Lady Clare(en)

A Lord weds a Lady despite discovering that she is a substituted village child. Based on the poem Lady Clare by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

After Twenty Years(en)

Tom Evans lives happily with his wife and child in their little place in Arizona until he is gripped with “Gold Fever”! He heads to Cripple Creek, strikes it rich, then abandoning his family makes his way to Chicago. Twenty years pass and he longs for his old home. Returning Tom is told by his son, now a man, there is no place for him before onlookers. Later, when Tom is found lying unconscious at the bottom of the arroyo, the son is accused and arrested. But Tom has only been stunned by his fall. He testifies that it was an accident, and reconciliation is affected between him and his long-lost family.

The Thief and the Book(en)

Young thief “The Bat” to distract an old bookseller, while his partner, “The Fly,” robs the till, purchases a book at random. Later, after a chase and escape to the Devil's Roost, Old Meg's refuge for thieves, he takes the book from his pocket and is about to throw it aside when the title attracts him, "Electricity Made Simple." Intrigued, the volume opens a new life to him and in time enables him to rescue the bookseller’s daughter Bess when she falls into trouble.