The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of Architects' Con...

Dir: Frederick J. Ireland

An unemployed cook takes her shot at working for an upper class family. When none of their fancy guests show up to a party, she and the butler impersonate them.

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.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lunatics in Politics perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Ralph Ince

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Vernon Stallings

Krazy Kat is held in jail and Ignatz finally bails him out after encountering "guilt".

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

Dir: Victor Heerman

The night of the Policeman's Benefit is at hand and all the coppers with their wives are in the audience. On the stage is a magician. Everything goes well until he asks for the officers' watches. Presumably he will turn them into eggs or something. He has a charming confederate and both enter compartments. When they don't reappear, the curtains are lifted and the fakirs are absent. They escaped through a trap in the stage. Then the chase is on.

Dir: Frank Moser

The simple story is about two siblings, little brother Bud and big sister Susie. After they've been reading "Huckleberry Finn" they dream of adventures on the Mississippi River.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Great Cheese Robbery perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Bud Fisher

Mutt and Jeff go on strike and make their own film.

Dir: Unknown Director

The village youths are rivals for the hand of the local belle. Their battles lead them to the village store, where chaos soon reigns, terminating in the place being blown up, leaving Bobby a happy victor.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Chicken à la Cabaret perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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.

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.