William Desmond Taylor
1872 - 1922The Green Temptation
William Desmond Taylor
Betty Compson, Mahlon Hamilton
Genelle and Gaspard operate an itinerant Parisian theatre in which the greatest profits are realized by picking the pockets of the audience and robbing their homes while they are watching the show. When the First World War breaks out, Genelle volunteers as a Red Cross nurse and renounces her criminal ways. She travels to America, but re-encounters Gaspard, who is determined to use her new contacts in the upper class to continue their larcenous partnership.
The Green Temptation
Judy of Rogues' Harbor
William Desmond Taylor
Mary Miles Minter, Charles Meredith
Judy, an orphaned waif, lives with Grandpap Ketchel, a cruel and often brutal man. The sole protector of little Denny, Ketchel's grandson, Judy is forced to accept the attentions of Jim Shuckles, whom she abhors and who has compromised her sister Olive.
Judy of Rogues' Harbor
Her Father's Son
William Desmond Taylor
Vivian Martin, Gayne Whitman
A Union officer exposes the several deceptions his sweetheart has been engaging in. These include , spying for the Confederacy, and posing as a boy in order to comfort her aging and wealthy uncle who has no heir.
Her Father's Son
A Little Madonna
Ulysses Davis
Patricia Palmer, William Desmond Taylor
Terrorized by Guido, her drunken and brutal father, Marie receives assurance from her dying mother that the Madonna will always protect her. The father reels in just after the mother has expired, too drunk to realize the woman is dead, and finding the whiskey bottle empty, abuses the child. Marie appeals to the image of the Madonna and Guido, in a frenzy of rage, smashes it on the floor. Horrified at the sacrilege, Marie screams.
A Little Madonna
The Heart of Paula
William Desmond Taylor, Julia Crawford Ivers
Lenore Ulric, Velma Lefler
When mining engineer Stephen Pachmann (Jack Livingstone) is sent to Mexico to investigate a mine, his wife Paula (Velma Lefler) is so miserable that her brother, Bruce McLean (Forrest Stanley) offers to go in his place. While south of the border, Bruce gets involved with an aristocratic Spanish girl, Paula Figueroa (Leonore Ulrich).
The Heart of Paula
Beyond
William Desmond Taylor
Ethel Clayton, Charles Meredith
Avis Langley's dying mother begs her to look after Avis's errant brother and continues after death to reappear in spirit form to remind Avis of her promise. Avis follows her brother to New Zealand in hopes of protecting him from his own ways, but on the trip tragedy apparently strikes.
Beyond
The House of Lies
William Desmond Taylor
Edna Goodrich, Juan de la Cruz
When her stepmother attempts to marry her off for the family's financial gain, sensitive and beautiful Edna takes drastic measures, disfiguring herself. The scarred woman falls in love with handsome author Marcus Auriel, but soon learns that her shallow stepsister Dorothy is a rival for his affection.
The House of Lies
How Could You, Jean?
William Desmond Taylor
Mary Pickford, Casson Ferguson
A lost Film. Mary Pickford plays a socialite who, having lost her fortune, takes a job as a Swedish cook. She falls in love with a chauffeur who, lo and behold, is a slumming millionaire.
How Could You, Jean?
The Soul of Youth
William Desmond Taylor
Lewis Sargent, Lila Lee
After directing him as the title character in Huckleberry Finn, William Desmond Taylor again used boy actor Lewis Sargent in this picture. His character, known merely as "the boy," has been raised in an orphanage where he has caused as much trouble as possible. He finally can't stand living there anymore and runs away. On the streets he finds a friend in Mike (Ernest Butterworth), a newsboy. Mike teaches him how to survive but inevitably the boy gets hauled into court. However, the judge sees potential in him and hands him over to be adopted by a young politician. The judge, incidentally, is played by Judge Ben Lindsey, who was famous in his day for his efforts to give delinquent boys a decent chance in life.
The Soul of Youth
Captain Kidd, Jr.
William Desmond Taylor
Mary Pickford, Douglas MacLean
An old man wills a map to his grandson, with instructions showing a buried treasure, but it is accidentally sold to a book store. The owner and her granddaughter Mary discover it. Mary and her boyfriend an aspiring author, meet the desperate grandson and agree to share the treasure.
Captain Kidd, Jr.
Morals
William Desmond Taylor
May McAvoy, William P. Carleton
Reared in a Turkish harem and threatened with marriage to a man she does not love, Carlotta escapes to London with an English adventurer. When he is killed, she is left destitute and attaches herself to Sir Marcus Ordeyne and begs his protection. He takes her home out of pity, and her charm and innocence cause him to fall in love with her. When he plans to marry her, Judith Mainwaring, who looks upon Carlotta as a rival, tells her he merely pities her and is marrying her to avoid a scandal. Carlotta runs away with Pasquale, a friend of Sir Marcus, though she loves her guardian. Later, Mrs. Mainwaring meets Carlotta in Paris and tells the girl the truth--that Sir Marcus is searching for her. Realizing his love for her, Carlotta is reunited with her benefactor.
Morals
Huckleberry Finn
William Desmond Taylor
Lewis Sargent, Katherine Griffith
Huckleberry Finn, a rambuctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish, plotting father by sailing a raft down the Mississippi River. Accompanying him is Jim, a slave running away from being sold. Together the two strike a bond of friendship that takes them through harrowing events and thrilling adventures.
Huckleberry Finn
