Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as A Woman's Fool: Cult Guide

Dir: John Ford

Jode McWilliams, the foreman of Circle O, is in love with Peg, the daughter of Pa Owens, the owner of the ranch. The trouble is that daddy won't allow! Which does not stop Jode from wanting to marry Peg. He asks Stumpy, the cook, to help him write a love letter to the lady of his heart. The other cowhands find it and, with a view to making fun of Jode, nail it to the door. Two Horns, an Indian, steals it and ... delivers it to Peg. When Jode and his posse, pursuing the facetious redskin, arrive at the Owenses' house, Jode's boss has already found out. A showdown ensues and the young man, who has lost the fight, is made prisoner and held in a room. But he is rescued by his pal Chub and a helpful parson marry the two lovebirds. Away they ride from the reluctant father towards happiness.

Dir: John Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Scarlet Drop perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A man declined admission to fight in the American Civil War joins a gang of marauders and winds up as a fugitive.

Dir: John Ford

The Northwest Mounties are after Cheyenne Harry for the murder of an Indian boy, and the only witness to the crime is a priest - who can't tell what he saw because the real killer, Black Michael, has confessed to him.

Dir: John Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Fight for Love perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A ranch foreman battles a rich stockbroker for the affections of a beautiful young woman.

Dir: John Ford

Cattleman Flint cuts off farmer Sims' water supply. When Sims' son Ted goes for water, one of Flint's men kills him. Cheyenne is sent to finish off Sims, but finding the family at the newly dug grave, he changes sides.

Dir: John Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Bucking Broadway perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A grizzled hero is revisiting the town of his youthful exploits.

Dir: John Ford

The head of a band of cattle rustlers is defied, prompting him to call his phantom riders together and route the defier's cattle, and then seek their owner intent on taking his life.

Dir: John Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Straight Shooting perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

The owner of a gambling hall is entrusted with the care of a pretty young girl. He falls in love with her, but he must decide whether to let her go to his best friend, with whom he believes her to be in love, or to try to win her for himself.

Dir: John Ford

An Arizona cattleman defeats the rustlers and the sheriff who is in league with them.

Dir: John Ford

Harry's bride is murdered at their wedding along with Harry's mother and father, and the good-hearted outlaw turns grimly malevolent.