Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator

After experiencing the unique vision of A Waggin' Tale (1923), finding other movies that capture that same lightning in a bottle is a top priority. These recommendations provide a deep dive into the same stylistic territory occupied by A Waggin' Tale.
This 1923 Comedy classic stands as a testament to challenge the status quo through its avant-garde structure.
Mr. Newlywed has to retire to an insignificant place in the background in view of the bride's fondness for her bulldog.
Critics widely regard A Waggin' Tale as a cult-favorite piece of Comedy cinema. Its unique vision is frequently cited as its strongest asset, solidifying its place in United States's film legacy.
Based on the unique unique vision of A Waggin' Tale, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Comedy cinema:
Dir: Edgar Jones
A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.
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Dir: Hal Roach
An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.
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Dir: Lloyd Ingraham
While walking along the street one day, Arthur P. Hampton, an impoverished young doctor, and his chums, Stub Masters and Johnny Stokes, are persuaded to part with their last remaining funds by tag day solicitor Mary Jane Smith, with whom the doctor promptly falls in love. Doc's friends then hit upon a get-rich-quick scheme. Knowing that his Uncle George has promised a large sum of money upon his nephew's marriage, they persuade Doc to send out fake wedding invitations naming Mary Jane as the blushing bride. Uncle George, elated at the good news, writes to Mary Jane's aunt, Angelica Burns, an old sweetheart, to invite Mary Jane and Angelica to be his guests on an ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Mary Jane pays a visit to the doctor's office and, upon seeing the wedding invitations, becomes so flustered that she trips and sprains her ankle. Doc comes to her rescue and then begs her to pose as his wife. She agrees, but at ship-side, Stub and Johnnie confess all to Uncle George, who flies into a rage until Doc announces that he and Mary Jane have chosen a wedding at sea.
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Dir: Carter DeHaven
A comedy and action series of ten 2-reel episodes, each episode complete in itself and entirely independent of the others: #1: The Sody Clerk; #2: A Thousand a Week; #3: He Became a Cop; #4: From the Rogue's Gallery; #5: Hired and Fired; #6: He Almost Lands an Angel; #7: A Hero by Proxy; #8: Borrowed Plumes; #9: Breaking Into Society; #10: Fame at Last.
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Dir: Jacques Jaccard
Douglas MacLeod of the Royal North West Mounted Police is in love with Suzanne Foucharde, who has adopted an abandoned Indian baby, the illegitimate child of Louis La Rocque and Na Fa Kowa. When La Rocque insinuates that the baby is Suzanne's, her brother Henry defends his sister's honor and kills the villain. In spite of his love for Suzanne, it is Douglas' duty to arrest Henry. He does so, but later allows him to escape, taking the bullet himself that was fired after Henry by Constable Burke. Meanwhile, the dead body of Na Fa Kowa is found, accompanied by a note proving that the Indian was the baby's mother. In the spring, when Douglas recovers from his wounds, he and Suzanne are married.
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Dir: Richard Smith
Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.
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Dir: F. Martin Thornton
In Paris an orphan cartoonist loves a man with a mad wife, who dies in time to prevent her marriage to a jilted Comte.
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Dir: Carter DeHaven
Phillip Borden, a young millionaire owner of a steel foundry, attends a musical comedy and sees Miss Frou Frou, who in private life is Fern Hardy. He immediately loses his heart and determines to win her. Fern Hardy is the foster-child of a reformed "crook," but these facts are entirely unknown to her. Bates, a notorious New York crook, with his accomplice, Herne, visit the Hardy flat, and after Fern retires, the men "frame up" a great haul. Hardy agrees to steal a sum of money from Borden's foundry. The crime is committed and the foundry watchman is discovered half dead. In his hand he clasps a card case, which bears Hardy's name. The following day, Fern gets a note from her father telling her that Bates will let her know where he is. Fern goes to her father, who is in hiding in a secret chamber, in Bates' apartment, and Hardy confesses that he committed the crime. Hardy begs Bates to allow him to go out. While on the street Hardy is overcome with guilt and is at the point of committing suicide, when Phil Corden happens along in his automobile and takes him to his home. Hardy ultimately confesses how in his youth he kidnapped a little child from a wealthy home, taking with him an ivory box, containing jewels. He determined to keep the baby for ransom, but his wife prevailed upon him to raise her as their own. Hardy then resolves to obtain the money from Bates and return it to the man from whom they stole it. He goes to Bates and makes his request. The result is a fierce fight. The same night Phil becomes intoxicated at his club and decides to finish off at a Turkish bath. He staggers up the steps, but instead of entering the right door, he enters Bates' apartment which is next to the Turkish bath establishment. The room is dark when Borden enters and as he strikes a match he sees in the dim light the face of Hardy, being distorted with agony and two hands clutching his throat. The match goes out and Borden is violently thrown to the floor. When he opens his eyes he looks directly into the face of a tiger skin rug. Suddenly a blow stuns him and the next thing he knows, he is being arrested. Fern goes again to visit her father and accepts a sum of money Bates gives her remarking that her father left it for her. Bates' housekeeper, seeing Fern receive the roll of bills, demands a share and is refused. Resolved to obtain money somehow, she steals some jewelry from his desk, takes the ivory box and sells the box and contents at an auction shop. While on a shopping tour, Fern is attracted by the sound of an auctioneer's voice. She enters the shop and is surprised to see the auctioneer holding up for bids her much treasured ivory box. Unable to resist, she enters the place, but not before Phil Borden sees her and follows her in, and when the bidding for the box starts he secures it. He offers it to her, but she refuses to take it without paying for it. Phil then gives her his card and tells her that whenever she wants it she may call upon him and get it. When Fern has saved enough money to pay for the box she goes to Phil, but he refuses to take the money. He forces the box into her arms and she leaves thankfully. After she has gone, Phil finds several bills on his desk where she has slipped them under the blotter. Upon examining the bills, he recognizes the number marks of his stolen money. Borden goes to Fern to find out how she obtained the money, and she gives the address of Bates. When Borden is admitted to Bates' apartment he recognizes the tiger rug on the floor. His mind reverts to the night of his adventure and he realizes that this is the house in which Hardy was being tortured. He compels the housekeeper to confess to him and she tells the complete story of the night Hardy was pleading with Bates to be allowed to return the money and Phil unexpectedly entered the room. After the housekeeper finishes her story, Borden is confronted by Bates. In an instant Borden springs upon him and they are in a struggle. The housekeeper, frightened and fearing one of them to be killed, opens the secret doorway and Hardy weakened by months of confinement totters forth. He manages to gather strength and filled with hate towards Bates, springs upon him like a dying panther and claws him from Phil. In this struggle Hardy is mortally wounded and sinks back dying as the officers, called by the housekeeper, enter the house and the raid is made. Fern comes to the house for news of her father and enters just as Bates, the housekeeper and the gang are arrested and taken away. The dying Hardy tells Phil that Fern is the little child that he stole and begs him to take her to her rightful parents.
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Dir: Unknown Director
The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.
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Dir: Charley Chase
A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to A Waggin' Tale
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the River | Gritty | High | 92% Match |
| His Royal Slyness | Gothic | Layered | 92% Match |
| Mary's Ankle | Surreal | High | 86% Match |
| Timothy Dobbs, That's Me | Gritty | High | 93% Match |
| Under Northern Lights | Gothic | Layered | 89% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Carter DeHaven's archive. Last updated: 8/16/2026.
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