Curated Recommendations Similar Cinematic Experiences to A Yankee Princess: Cult Guide

Dir: David Smith

Two men, Philip Whittemore (Henry B. Walthall) and Thorpe (Harry Northrup) both go to the Northwest to gain the right-of-way for their railroad company from D'Arcambal (Emmett King). Whittemore arrives first and D'Arcambal refuses to meet with him until he saves his daughter, Jeanne (Pauline Starke) from going over the rapids. Then Thorpe arrives and tries to use force by kidnapping Jeanne and insisting that he is her father. It comes out that Thorpe actually did run off with D'Arcambal's wife years before. But a half-breed, Pierre (Joe Rickson), proves that Jeanne really is the daughter of D'Arcambal. The captive Jeanne is able to light a signal fire so that the Native Americans will rescue her. Eventually she and Whittemore are married.

Dir: David Smith

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

Spunky young Alannah, an Irish immigrant living in a tenement, sells newspapers to support her family. She is soon helping a district attorney secure proof that the unjust town mayor is collecting bribes. For her reward, Alannah and her boyfriend Jimmy are appointed managers of a municipal restaurant.

Dir: David Smith

On a voyage to Europe, reformed criminal Anthony Trent seeks former war comrade "William Smith," the only person who knows his true identity. In England, Anthony discovers that Smith's real name is Arthur Grenvil, the son of the Earl of Rosecarrel. He also meets and falls in love with Arthur's sister Daphne. Upon learning that the earl is being blackmailed by Count Michael Temesvar, who threatens to expose a treaty between their two countries, Anthony embarks on a suicide mission to the Balkan States to retrieve the treaty, overcoming a myriad of deadly obstacles. Following Anthony's escape in the count's silver automobile, the earl rewards him with an Australian ranch and Daphne's hand.

Dir: David Smith

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

Allen Spargo, a mining engineer betrothed to Theresa Kane, goes West to make his fortune and is seriously injured in an accident. Kate Leonard falls in love with him while nursing him to recovery. She jealously intercepts his fiancée's letters and writes Theresa that Allen is dead. Paralyzed by grief for a time, Theresa finally agrees to marry her former suitor, Lemuel Antree, but soon after the ceremony, Allen returns. Assuming that she no longer loves him, Allen leaves for the West, but Theresa follows him. Lemuel pursues the couple intending to kill them, but learns that Allen had once saved his life. Since Lemuel believes that his life, in effect, belongs to Allen, he drowns himself to allow the couple to marry.

Dir: David Smith

Based on the play 'The Shaughraun', this is the story of Robert Ffolliat, a young Irish lad, who is done out of his land and sent off to a penal colony in Australia following false accusations by the greedy Kinchella. Conn the Shaughraun comes to his rescue, helps him to escape from the prison ship and return to Ireland where he is united with his sweetheart.

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Gentleman's Agreement perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Having been discharged as the Van Smuythes' coachman for drunkenness, Thomas McQuade has joined the Bed Liners in Madison square. It is freezing cold. Standing beside him is a young man, shabby but neat. They exchange confidences and Thomas learns that the young man has just been discharged from a hospital without a penny, his wife and child having been obliged to return to her mother. He had married against the wishes of his unforgiving relatives. Just then an automobile dashes up Fifth avenue and, when opposite the Bed Line, drops an extra tire. Thomas catches it and returns it to the owner, expecting at least a dollar for the service, but, instead the imposing gentleman asks him mysteriously if he knows the Van Smuythes, and on learning that he does, Thomas is forthwith taken to a palatial house in the Seventies and fed on cold fowl, tea biscuits and wine. While thus pleasantly occupied two women are mysteriously ushered into a side room, where his host, Prof. Cherubusco, the great clairvoyant, tells them that the Chaldean Chiroscope has been successful, for had it not said "By the fifth wheel of the chariot he shall come?" But the professor, learning instead that Thomas is the Van Smuythe's ex-coachman, throws him into the street. So back to the Bed Line goes Thomas, where he resumes his conversation with his new friend. Suddenly a sturdy girl rushes up to him. It is Annie, his sweetheart and maid at the Van Smuythe's, whom he has not seen for a month. She says his old position is waiting for him, but suddenly catching sight of the other man she screams, "Mr. Walter!" And then it appears that she had accompanied her mistress to the great clairvoyant and he had hold her where she would find her sweetheart, and she had also found "Mr. Walter." After paying the car fares home she vows to give her remaining $11.85 to Professor Cherubusco, "the greatest man in the world." Moving Picture World, February 2, 1918

Dir: David Smith

Pegeen O'Neill must fend for herself when her father Dan becomes mentally unbalanced after his wife Mary's death. Dan spends his days searching for his wife, setting fires in the belief that the flames will illuminate his Mary. The townspeople, enraged at the arson that is slowly destroying their village, track down Dan and trap him in a burning cabin. Pegeen rushes to comfort her dying father, who consoles himself at death with the hallucination that his wife has returned in the figure of his daughter. Pegeen is then rescued from the raging fire by Jimmie, who proposes to the waif as he delivers her from the flames.

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of My Wild Irish Rose perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A hobo hires out as a sheepman. The owner of the ranch is a mysterious individual, who is suspected of being Black Bill, a badly wanted man.

Dir: David Smith

Gilbert Thurstan, deputy inspector of the British Civil Service Commission in India, is warned by a physician that his wife, Emily, cannot remain in the hot climate where he is stationed, and he applies to his superior, Vincent Chalmers, for a transfer. Vincent is enamored with Emily and sends Gilbert to a post in Kajra, where the previous inspector died of fever. Emily goes to Simla at her husband's behest, with Vincent in pursuit. While he attempts to romance Emily, her ailing husband clashes with Hindu fanatics but manages to quell them single-handedly. Emily rejects Vincent, who is wracked with guilt over his treatment of Gilbert and travels to Kajra to relieve him of his appointment. Gilbert is reassigned to another city, where Emily happily awaits him.

Dir: David Smith

Forced to wear quaint short dresses and pigtails so that she will inspire her grandfather's sentimental poetry, nineteen-year-old Joy Havenith longs for companions of her own age. One day Johnny Hewitt, seeing her confide her troubles to her Aunt Lucilla's portrait, tells her that if she wishes hard enough, her dreams will come true. Not knowing his name, she thereafter thinks of him as her "wishing ring man." Soon Joy meets a married couple who invite her to the city. Because her grandparents will not let her leave until she is engaged, she lies that she is the fiancée of a man of whom her friends have spoken, Dr. John Hewitt, not realizing that he is her "wishing ring man." John agrees to play along for a month, to the dismay of his fiancée, Gale Maddox. After the wedding presents and bridesmaids have arrived, Joy, thinking that John loves Gale, leaves the rehearsal and returns home. John then finds her confiding to the portrait and declares his real love for her.