Deep Archive Finds in the Vein of Baree, Son of Kazan: Cult Guide

Dir: David Smith

"King" McAllister's word is law, judge, and jury in the cattle country where he lives with his daughter Panchita. His foreman, Price Purcell, believed he had a chance of winning Panchita's hand until the arrival of Buck Lumsden, who settled all doubts concerning the likely winner. Buck did not make a hit at first because he was "down and out" but he lingers and is made foreman of the year's round-up which was not altogether to Purcell's liking. Purcell plans to ruin Buck in the estimation of the boss as well as Panchita. After the round-up, all adjourn to the dance hall and gambling resort to celebrate, and Purcell lures Buck into a roulette game. Buck loses not only his own money but a large amount belonging to McAllister. Purcell returns to McAllister with the news of Buck's disloyalty. Buck has married Panchita. He is obliged to flee the country and sets out to raise enough money to repay McAllister for the amount he had lost to Purcell.

Dir: David Smith

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

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

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.

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Wishing Ring Man perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Timid village schoolteacher Geraldine Farleigh supports her family and must pay off her late father's debt to Bruce Cartwright.

Dir: David Smith

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: David Smith

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

Ragged Patsy O'Reilly imagines herself as the descendant of Irish nobility. When her father, an impoverished contractor, invents an ore crusher, the family suddenly becomes wealthy and moves to New York City. Patsy is enrolled in a finishing school, and her parents tour Ireland, where they purchase, at their daughter's request, a coat-of-arms from the bankrupt Lord Windbourne family. After the O'Reillys return to the U.S., they are visited by Lady Windbourne and her son, the Lord, who do not mention that the adopted coat-of-arms is their own. Lord Windbourne becomes engaged to Patsy, but is later revealed as an impostor by the true heir to the Windbourne line, Larry Burke, an English officer. Larry marries Patsy and gives her an authentic ancestral name and coat-of-arms.

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 Telemachus, Friend perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Anna Sewell's "autobiography" of a horse named Black Beauty is here expanded to include the adventures of the humans who surround the horse.

Dir: David Smith

Peggy (Bessie Love) and her sister Frances (Myrtle Reeves) live with their father, but because of his idleness, they must all move to humbler quarters. Peggy adapts quickly to their new surrounding, while Frances misses the social life she once enjoyed. Their neighbors are well off, and Peggy begins a romance with their son, whom she thinks is the chauffeur. Meanwhile, Frances has become involved with a roguish character and plans to elope with him. Peggy saves her sister from imminent disgrace, but comes close to compromising herself instead. Peggy's sweetheart comes to her rescue and now his true identity is revealed to the very grateful girl.

Dir: David Smith

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.